Private building control

Hoploz

I'm a great advocate of the building inspector as an independent person ensuring structures are built safely.

Embarking on my new project, both builders I've had round so far have said they tend to use private companies these days instead, as council BI identifies problems but doesn't help whereas private firms work more collaboratively with the builder to achieve solutions.

Should I be nervous, or is this how it tends to work these days due to council cuts etc? I must say the Planning Dept are like speaking to a brick wall these days - very different to my last project 9 years ago.

Hoploz

I'm also wondering whether this is why there are so many house sales hampered by lack of building regs sign-off - private firms not always issuing certificates, or homeowners falling out with builders meaning the relationship breaks down before completion stage ??

Doozergirl

It's what we do.

Fact is, you build relationships with people and yes, private building control work collaboratively.

With local authority, you can't even guarantee the same inspector for different projects in the same LA area. If you're working in different areas, then you won't see the same person for months on end. And some people are simply easier to deal with than others. Customer service comes woth a company that you choose to buy services from, not the councilmwhere you're forced to.

We work as a team as a company and our BCO is an extended part of that. He's still a BCO, you won't get anything past him but we can ask him what he'd like to see and run different ideas past him. We also get to impress him too sometimes

Doozergirl

Hoploz wrote: »

I'm also wondering whether this is why there are so many house sales hampered by lack of building regs sign-off - private firms not always issuing certificates, or homeowners falling out with builders meaning the relationship breaks down before completion stage ??

Cheap builders and homeowners who don't do due diligence or don't care.

Missing out Building Control is the easiest way to cut costs. Not just because of the cost of building control itself, but because they can do whatever they want and no one is going to pull them up.

I may be biased, but when you compare to cost of builders you're not compare the cost of the same model of washing machine. It isn't like for like.

Private BC register the job with the council and the private firm will follow the builder up! It's not private firms doing anything wrong at all. They are on the ball.

System

Independent building control is a good system (when people understand the process) - I long for the day they introduce it in Scotland!
It will be a little more expensive than local authority BC but can help to avoid any delays on site so will pay for itself over the course of a build. None the less we always issue a full set of detailed drawings which show compliance with building regs (and additional information) to allow the works to be properly costed prior to any work on site - no matter who is signing off the building regs side of things

lush_walrus

Independent building control is very common, more competitive with their price.

27cool

In my experience, the BCO will not tell you what to do, but will tell you if the answer you have suggested will be acceptable to him/her.
Having said that, the BCO I was involved with, did give me some useful suggestions. Which saved me both money and time.