Conveyancing & Building Control
Pitfalls & Solutions
Together with the condition survey report, lending societies regard a Building Control completion certificate part of the essential documentation in the conveyance of any dwelling.
It is therefore surprising how many building projects are finished without Building Control having ever been contacted or consulted regarding the required application.
Many homeowners are unaware for example that installation of central heating is subject to building regulations. More often than not unauthorised work comes to light during the ‘property search’ which is carried out when houses are being sold or remortgaged, causing problems.
However, it is never too late to put things right and there is a facility to regularise any ‘illegal’ work under Northern Ireland Building Regulations. Even so, such a regularisation process should not be used as an excuse to by-pass normal application procedures - better to have the work checked out as it is progressing rather than having to do remedial work at a later stage!
Building Control will give priority to the regularisation process as it is recognised that time is usually of the essence with such applications, and should any remedial work be necessary, this will have to be put right before the Regularisation Certificate is issued.
