Holiday Let Building Control

Lurcheral

First of all sorry if this is in the wrong forum, it seemed the best fit.

I've just built a holiday let on my property which used to be a run down timber workshop. I'm right at the end of the process and wondered if anyone could help.

Fyi the holiday let is next to my house but not attached.

Building Control have asked for PAS 24 certificates for the windows/doors and also SAP testing calculations. I'm having a panic as my doors don't conform to PAS 24, building regs yes but apparently not PAS24. I didn't design or pick them and had no involvement in the windows so this is the first I've heard but does a holiday let definitely require PAS24 windows as it's technically a business?

Its a furnished holiday let but it can't be used as a residence, it's stipulated in the planning approval that occupation can only be for 28 days maximum at a time, so this will only ever be a holiday let with people staying a week or two. As it's really a business (I will be paying business rates not council tax) do I absolutely have to have PAS24 windows? My builder wants to put external locks on the outside which seems a bit off to me and I have no money in the budget so don't want to do things that aren't 100 % necessary.

Also I wanted to keep the build cheap and simple so I had electric panel heaters put in the rooms. These are energy efficient and run off electricity but I'm being told that these won't meet the minimum epc regs despite them being low cost to run and the building is hugely insulated. I've been told I may need to add solar panels, again is this necessary on purely a holiday let (commercial. Business)?

From what I can see online, no it's not but it's a bit of an unknown territory for my building control peeps so I want to try and source the info myself to present to them. Also a family member did a similar build five years ago and the electric panels were passed without issue.

Any help would be appreciated.  If I have to suddenly implement all these things at the end it's gonna be a nightmare as I'm already over budget and about five months behind

I just want to be 100% sure as people can err on the side of caution to cover themselves but I don't have the budget or time really to do things that aren't strictly needed.

lincroft1710

You may find that as the property you have built is for human habitation (albeit on a short term basis) it will have to conform to regulations laid down for residential properties. Being a "business" is a planning issue not a building regulation issue.


What may have been acceptable 5 years ago may not be acceptable now. BR requirements constantly change especially in regard to safety and energy and thermal efficiency.

Doozergirl

Of course it needs to meeting building regulations.    It is ostensibly a home.  If it has heating in and it's on your land, it needs to comply.   You are barking up the wrong tree with the idea that it's a business that has lower standards.  

Get your SAP calculations done.  Whoever does it can help you assess the simplest way to make it pass - if it doesn't already.  No use panicking about that bit until you know.  

ProDave

This is why the Scottish system of effectively full plans approval before you can start is good, because you have a design SAP done and know if you build it to the plans it will pass.

Wait until they ask you for an air tightness test.....