Building Warrants
WHAT IS A BUILDING WARRANT?
A building warrant is a legal permission to start building work or to convert or demolish a building.
Verifiers within your local authority are responsible for issuing building warrants. In assessing your application for a warrant, they must apply the standards set by the building regulations. These standards are intended to secure the health, safety, welfare and convenience of people in and around buildings, to conserve fuel and power and to further the achievement of sustainable development.
DO I REQUIRE A BUILDING WARRANT?
Building warrants are required for the construction of new buildings, alterations and extensions to existing buildings, demolition of buildings and the conversion of buildings. A conversion is a particular change in occupation or use of a building.
Sometimes apparently simple alterations may not appear to require a building warrant but could lead to a contravention of the building regulations. It is therefore always advisable to seek professional advice before proceeding with any proposal affecting your property.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I DO NOT OBTAIN A BUILDING WARRANT?
If you carry out work that requires a building warrant without first obtaining a building warrant, you are committing an offence. Should you apply for a warrant after works have been completed, the construction must meet the relevant standards at the time of application and not when the building works started. Often you will have to expose a section of the completed work so that adequate checks can be made. Late applications also incur higher fees to cover such difficulties.
When selling your home you will be asked to produce a completion certificate which confirms that the work complies with the standards. Without this, you will likely encounter problems
HOW CAN LEAD STRUCTURAL (LS) HELP?
LS has comprehensive knowledge of the building standards and extensive experience of preparing building warrant applications and securing approval for a diverse range of building types.
- LS regularly act as an agent on behalf of clients to guide them through the building warrant process and submit applications on their behalf.
- LS are familiar with what level of building works do not require a building warrant and can offer advice based on your requirements from the outset.
- LS can assist with the production of all relevant information in connection with your building warrant including detailed plans, specifications and any necessary calculations. All of these documents will ensure that your application is processed in the shortest possible time.
- LS can advise on timescales and assist with programming construction work around obtaining building warrant approval.
DO I REQUIRE PLANNING APPROVAL?
Some development does not require a planning application as legislation specifies it as permitted development on the basis of being, for example, either minor or uncontroversial development or associated with the existing use of land or buildings.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I PROCEED WITHOUT PLANNING APPROVAL?
If you proceed to carry out development without planning approval, the planning department at your local authority can enforce changes or order unauthorised works to be demolished or put back to the way they were. Fines can also be applied by the planning department and most homeowners who proceed without obtaining planning approval will encounter problems when selling their property.
HOW CAN LEAD STRUCTURAL (LS) HELP?
- LS has comprehensive knowledge of the planning system and extensive experience of preparing planning applications and securing approval for a diverse range of building types.
- LS regularly act as an agent on behalf of clients to guide them through the planning process and submit applications on their behalf.
- LS are familiar with what is and what is not deemed permitted development and can offer advice based on permitted development legislation from the outset.
- LS have established relationships with several the planning departments in several local authorities and regularly have informal discussions with them to determine the likelihood of success prior to submission of a formal application. LS can also advise on what kind of proposals have been granted in the past.
- LS can assist with the production of all relevant information in connection with your planning application including site plans, design drawings and 3D images. All of these documents will ensure that your application is processed in the shortest possible time.
- LS can advise on timescales and assist with programming construction work around obtaining planning approval.
