Building work - lack of completion certificate

firebird082

Hi all,

We had an extension built that completed in early 2019. I've recently received an email from building control saying that "Due to the extended period of time since the last inspection was requested, it has been assumed therefore that the works have been completed or occupied in excess of 3 years and consequently the Local Authority will not normally carry out any further inspections and the files have now been archived. Firstly I would confirm that in these circumstances the Local Authority will not take any enforcement action

under the Building Regulations for failure to notify for a completion inspection."

There is an option to get the files unarchived and pay for the completion inspection now. Is this worth doing? Does it have to be done now, or can I do it at a later point? I.e. will the lack of completion certificate from the building works cause me issues if and when we come to selling? 

Thanks

Doozergirl

I think that this is something new, there is a new Building Safety Act 2022 which is making sweeping changes to building control.  Part of that is trying to ensure that the latest regulations are followed, which means setting a time scale for work to be finished or at least to be kept in the loop on a regular basis.  It used to be that once you started work, you had forever to finish.  

I don't think they will reopen the file.  You have confirmation at least that no enforcement action will be taken.  

Keep a copy of that email for when you come to sell.  

ProDave

But equally yo don't have a completion certificate?  Just a comfort letter that they won't come chasing you.  So nothing to say the work was all inspected and all complied.

This might bite you in the bum if you ever come to sell the house.

It might be worth asking just what they would need to complete their inspections and issue a completion certificate.

firebird082

ProDave said:

But equally yo don't have a completion certificate?  Just a comfort letter that they won't come chasing you.  So nothing to say the work was all inspected and all complied.

This might bite you in the bum if you ever come to sell the house.

It might be worth asking just what they would need to complete their inspections and issue a completion certificate.

One of many things when we come to sell I suspect... so no, no actual completion certificate. It all makes sense, just really irritating that our builders both didn't do it, and also didn't bother to tell us that we needed to sort it, which I could easily have done at the time, had I known. Thanks, I'll drop them a line and see if I can find out what is needed.