New Charges from council involved for Re-Roofing

ahll

Hi all,
I thought I would let people know about a new things that has just been introduced by the government and implemented by the council.

I live in a Grade II listed building and need to re-roof the house. I approached the planning dept to see if I needed anykind of concents. They wrote back and said I didn't need planning permission or Listed Buildings Consent but I might need Building Regulations Approval. I rang the Building Control Dept and they said a new thing has just come in and now you have to pay them £194.87 so they check what needs doing on the roof and in particular that I have enough insulation in the roof. If I dont I have pay to have more put in.

He said it was so new that the roofers probably wouldn't know about it.

So it seems that everyone now needs to do this when they get there roof re done wether they are listed or not.

I have never been involved with Buidling Regs before do you usually have to pay them if say you develop a property ?

BobProperty

ahll wrote:

....I live in a Grade II listed building and need to re-roof the house. I approached the planning dept to see if I needed anykind of concents. They wrote back and said I didn't need planning permission or Listed Buildings Consent but I might need Building Regulations Approval.

Firstly, lucky you. Secondly are you sure the minion answering the phone realised that you have a Listed building when they gave you that advice? Surely the planning dept will want to know you are replacing like for like? I really am surprised that they haven't taken an interest. Did you specify what you were doing when you contacted them, e.g. said using Welsh Slate etc. etc.?

ahll wrote:

I rang the Building Control Dept and they said a new thing has just come in and now you have to pay them £194.87 so they check what needs doing on the roof and in particular that I have enough insulation in the roof. If I dont I have pay to have more put in.

He said it was so new that the roofers probably wouldn't know about it.

So it seems that everyone now needs to do this when they get there roof re done wether they are listed or not.

I have never been involved with Buidling Regs before do you usually have to pay them if say you develop a property ?

I think that the new part to the regs regarding energy efficiency, which came in earlier in the year, may cover loft and roof insulation. Generally, you need Building Regulation approval and inspection (and therefore fees paid) for anything that is covered by Building Regulations. Sorry that's a bit 1984ish/Kafka-esque but without trying to remember a list of things that are or aren't covered I can't give the details. It's always easiest to phone the Building Control section and say "I'm doing this ...., do I need to inform you ?"

ahll

Yes I explained that my house was listed both to the planning people and the Building Control people. I have a letter from them telling me I didnt need the planning permission or Listed Buildings Consent. I have told them that I am replacing like for like but surely now they are going to inspect the roof they will keep an eye on it.

So does Building Control charge you £194 everytime they come out and look at something or can you combine things. I am looking into putting an extention on the back of my house just in the planning stage at the moment though(with the Architect).

BobProperty

ahll wrote:

So does Building Control charge you £194 everytime they come out and look at something or can you combine things. I am looking into putting an extention on the back of my house just in the planning stage at the moment though(with the Architect).

They have a scale of charges, I suspect the £194 will include one or two inspection visits.
Unless the re-roofing and the extension are being done together then I think they will want separate fees. There, most likely, will be fees involved with the extension. You could ask the Architect what he thinks they are likely to want to check, he should have some idea.

ahll

Altarf wrote:

You do realise that if you require (and obtain) listed building consent for an approved alteration that the work is zero rated for VAT rather than standard rated as maintenance. Quite subtle changes may be considered alterations and require consent, and with 17.5% difference at stake it might be worth taking some advice.

No I didnt realise that but as its a straight replacement job apart from the addition of breathable felt (none there at the moment) and chicken wire around the chimney pots (to keep the birds from nesting) do you think I would get it ?

Also do you have to pay to get listed buildings concent ?

Debt_Free_Chick

ahll wrote:

I have never been involved with Buidling Regs before do you usually have to pay them if say you develop a property ?

Just to confirm what Bob Property said .... certain work is subject to Building Control. In fact, I think the list of work not governed by Building Control is shorter :rotfl:

New regs were introduced on 6 April 2006 which extended building controls to cover energy efficient requirements - and this includes loft insulation. So, where a new roof is put in, Building Control now applies. So the Local Authority will send a building inspector out to check that what you've done meets the new requirements.

Who is doing the work? Check that the contractor is aware of the new Building Control that applies to loft insulation. It's far better to put the right stuff in first - then the Inspector comes out, takes a look, says "that's alright" and job done. If it's not "alright" you'll have to fix whatever is wrong.

So ... get it right, in the first place.

Here's the announcement about the new regulations. And here's the Approved Document Part L which sets out what you must do. Look at the page numbered 27 which is the 29th page, if you see what I mean (the first two aren't numbered). Get the contractor to confirm that he's aware of this new Part L. If he isn't, find one who is!

Whenever building control is required, an inspector needs to visit to confirm that the controls have been met - so, yes, there's a charge.

My building control fee for a two-storey extension was £391 :eek:

HTH