Regulations

[alexbartman]

I'm confused (not the first time)....but what are the basics of ne

legislation coming up for DIY. I have just completed my secon bathroom - totally ripped-out, moved the location of the sanitarywar around a bit, re plumbed crappy pipework and put in a new towel rad an new bath, basin and lav........I'm no expert, but I think I know my wa around the basics (most fo the time).

My brother wants to do the same to his house and has asked me to help. Am I no longer allowed to do this for him? Or do I have to get Buildings Insepctor down once the work is completed (or sem completed). (And what will happen if I dont????)

Needless to say, I wont touch gas - but when it comes to power showers shaving sockets and lighting am I forbidden from DIY-ing these

Thereare so many threads on this I'm struggling to find the simples and most definitive answer

-- alexbartman

[Tim S]

You are allowed, subject to below:

Yes - in fact you need to write up and submit a Building Notice Application (BNA) 48 hours before you start. The Building Control Officer (BCO) will advise about visits, but you may begin the work after 48 hours.

Unless you already started the work *cough* before Dec 31st 2004, in which case you have the rest of March to finish it...

Probably not much. Technically it's a criminal offence leading to a max

5000GBP fine, but the council only have 6 months to get this to court.

There are scaremonger wibblings about it being difficult to sell the house down the line, but I think that's a load of b*ll*cks. It might invalidate his house/contents insurnace though - so best read the small print.

Might not look good if he needs building control for a bigger project in the future though, if you've obviously taken the mick by ignoring building control. Assuming they can spot any new work...

Which, somewhat perversly, you still can without telling anyone, unless it's for hire or reward, then you need to be CORGI registered...

Of course not. You just have to invoke a layer of beaurocracy and cough up 120 odd quid, plus maybe get an inspection done at the end.

That's it in a nutshell...

There are "non notifiable" works, eg spur or changing fittings like for like, but these exemptions don't apply in the bathroom (and some other areas).

Tim

[Tim S]

Bugger, It's too late - what I wrote applies to electrics. Got Part P on the brain...

You need a BNA (or more) in general for electrics (Part P), changing windows (Part L) and definately anything structural, eg moving a door in a load bearing wall. And foul water drains outside. Technically. And possibly lots of other things. But not interior DIY in general, subject to what I have mentioned. Just pay attention to the equipotential bonding in the new revised bathroom - it's quite important you don't c*ck it up or you can create a dangerous situation.

If you are somehow not touching the electrics and are leaving the window alone, I don't think you need any building control. Water plumbing's not regulated yet.

Tim

[Mike]

But you still need to tell your BCO so it's really the same as Part P only BCOs seem qualified to check gas whereas they seem to want to hire in people for electricity.

[Tim S]

Really? I hadn't come across that, then I haven't tried installing gas, though when my Dad did so, he ran the pipe, tested it and asked the Gas Board ('twas a long time ago) to come and connect to the meter. They tested it again and did so. Do you know which section that comes under?

Cheers

Tim

[Mike Harrison]

In theory, you need to jump through BCO hoops. In practice, unless there is any way anybody could prove it was done after the end of last year, just go ahead and do it. As long as it is done competently, there is zero chance of any consequences. Discard all receipts.

[Tony Bryer]

We've just sold a flat which had new windows last year and the solicitors went to town on the FENSA paperwork - if we'd not been able to produce it I doubt whether it would have stopped the sale but would probably have been used to force a price reduction. It may be a bit different with electrics if there's nothing to show when the work was done and you don't fess up.

[Tim S]

I suppose a surveyor worth his salt might look sufficiently closely at a few bits of electrics to spot the odd tell tale date stamp on the plastic, as some products have. Not that it proves anything, unless he finds it in the bathroom, kitchen or CU to name a few non-exempted places/things.

I think as a buyer, I'd be happy to hear any suspicions my surveyor had, but by and large I wouldn't expect to ask my solicitor to chase it - waste of my money, as long as the work looks basically up to par. After a couple of transfers of property ownership, missing paperwork doesn't prove very much IMO. When I sold my flat, (3rd owner since new) I was asked for the electrical installation certificate (we're talking about Ideal Homes here).

I told them it didn't exist and that was the end of that.

You're right, though, buyer's are always looking for an angle to haggle. Can't blame them... But it has to be a good angle before I'll give in, depending on whether I'm pressured to sell quickly or not and how many other people are interested in the property.

Cheers

Tim

[Andrew Gabriel]

My impression (from a rather small sample of various colleagues moving) is that for the year after Part L came in, all the solicitors were asking for all the details. However, in the last year, most of the building control related questions seem to have vanished -- two of them were both asked specifically only about any structural changes and any changes to underground drains they'd done (none in either case). Maybe it depends on the buyer's solicitors, and/or any questions the buyers mortgage company specifically ask, which may in turn depend on the percentage mortgage?

[Brian Sharrock]

Recently viewed a house up for sale ... the stair case had no spindles at all ... just banister rails up the side stair, half landing and landing area ... never mind about a 100 mm ball passing through ... one could have passed a one-metre beach-ball through! But, not a mention by the estate-agent.. The house 'went' at the full asking-price!

[David Hearn]

Probably sold to people without children. Either that or they were keen DIY'ers (I'm doing similar job tomorrow!) or just were happy to pay someone to fix it after they moved in.

David

[Mike]

Indeed it was. I'm afraid for oil and gas (unless you are OFTEC or CORGI registered) the BCO now has to inspect before the commissioning document you must submit can even be filled in to send to him.

[Tim S]

Well, thanks for enlightening me.

It was definitely better when we had proper single-function utility companies. They'd often check the installation for nowt and at least you were more likely to have a specialist looking at your handiwork rather than some overworked poor BCO trying to keep abreast of the regulations covering everything.

Now it's 100+VAT for everything... Where did it all go wrong...

Tim

[Ed Sirett]

However do note that installing a boiler comes under the building regs Part J IIRC as part of heating regs.

CORGI members may self certify compliance on the commissioning log book. The only impact of not having this paperwork would be a zealous solicitor and.or a wriggling boiler manufacturer who want to disown a warranty claim.

[Tim S]

Will do, thanks.

Tim

[Mike]

When Part P cam out and some people here have founf the £100+VAT appears to have turned into a lot lot more.

[chris French]

In message , Andrew Gabriel writes

We are in the middle of buying and selling, both the information form that we filled in, and the one the sellers of the house we are buying filled in had questions regarding FENSA paperwork for windows and one asking about BRA for any electrical work carried out after Jan 1 2005, as well as general ones about any alterations/conversions etc. and any necessary consents, BRA etc. for them.

Then again, our buyers solictor has asked us if we have BRA paperwork for the carport put up in 1965 by the previous owner...... FGS, they did a big extension, new garage and I guess the carport all together almost

40 years ago - who gives a toss now?

On this point, is there some limit (I assume there is) on the time after works are done when any action or enforcement can be taken against you for not complying with building regs (or for that matter planning regs)