Can you start building works without building regs?

clutterbug_2

Our builder has three weeks available before his next job, which should take about a month, then we are scheduled in for 5 weeks for our extension,

But as we have kids who are desperate to play in the garden when we get good weather, we were thinking that he could perhaps get on straight away with the walls and possibly the concrete floor, then whilst he's on his next job we could get the joiner in to put the exposed roof trusses in, and the flat roof next to the new one, renewed.!

Then when he's finished this other job he can finish off what needs doing.

But we don't have building regs, our architect is sorting it and submitting it all this week.!

A builder we had quote mentioned that you could start work, it just meant that the inspector would need to come to site a few more times.

ormus

have you done the groundworks/foundations then?
have they been passed?

clutterbug_2

Nothing has been done at all -apart from planning approved.

jkpd

No you need building regs in place,quickest way if you plan to start in the next few days is to do it on a building notice, go on the website of your local council, find building control, you can download a form,your builder will know what to do,or give building control a ring they might inspect foundations if you have a application in the system.

clutterbug_2

Thanks. I thought building notice may be the way to go. It's going to take him a few days to clear the site, so that should hopefully give me and the architect time to get things moving.

bobthedambuilder

Have you got / do you need planning permission for the extension? If so, and it's not approved yet, just be aware that there is a risk, maybe small, that your plans will be rejected, or may get approval but with conditions or alterations which may affect what you've done. If you're prepared to take that risk, get the building regs notice sorted.

clutterbug_2

We have planning permission approved, so that's not a problem. My architect has now signed off and has said that it's all up to us, the builder and the building control now!

Builder hoping to start next week for three weeks, which means that hopefully it'll only be a couple of weeks after he's finished his next job, and us getting the garden cleared by the middle of May!

oz0707

You need to have applied and submitted for building reg's, yet dont have to have them approved to start work. I have just had the approval through the post yesterday and this is where i'm upto

http://selfbuildbungalow.blogspot.com

The councils building control will explain to you that without them you are in theory, starting 'off your own back'. However, you can ask the officer assigned to the case whether there are any issues with what you want to get on with. they inspect the footings anyway, and they are dug to the depth that the officer wants, so you can do that as soon as you have applied. Then ask if floor makeup and insulation looks ok. I've got this far without them