Pre-site approval

What is a regularisation certificate?

Where works are carried out without building regulations approval being sought the owner may be prosecuted. However, to facilitate people who wish to have work approved, there is a process called regularisation. A regularisation application is a retrospective application relating to previously unauthorised works i.e. works carried out without building regulations consent, started on or after the 11 November 1985.

The purpose of the process is to regularise the unauthorised works and obtain a certificate of regularisation. Depending on the circumstances, exposure, removal and/or rectification of works may be necessary to establish compliance with the building regulations.

You are advised to contact your local authority building control service to discuss your individual circumstances before submitting a regularisation application.

When is a regularisation certificate required?

Regularisation certificates are required where the work has already taken place without receiving the correct authorisation. This still applies if the work was done before you became owner of a property.

Information required

The level of detail required for a regularisation certificate varies depending on the size of the breach. It will often require a description of the breach and plans (if available).

Fee

The fee varies based on the level of work that has taken place.

What happens next

Once the authority receives the application they will arrange to inspect the work, this will determine whether the work complies, or what has to be done to ensure that it can comply.

Legislation

Read Section 18 of The Building Regulations 2010 (as amended)¹ of the legislation for more details.

Find your local authority building control team ^{(https://www.planningportal.co.uk/applications/building-control-applications/building-control/how-to-get-approval/where-to-get-approval/local-authority-building-control-services)}

1. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/2214/regulation/18