Penalties for not getting building regs approval?

[Brad J]

If I were to install a new front door in a blank wall on the front of my house, and don't get building control approval of the work, what are the potential consequences? It's not a listed building and the front door would open onto a piece of my own land.

Why don't I want to get building regs approval? Because it's a hassle, it costs, and I know how to install a lintel properly etc. The house isn't going to fall down...

Thank you,

Brad J

[RichardS]

to be blunt, and without going into the rights and wrongs, it's a criminal offence:

for a worst case scenario you could end up with a criminal record, a fine and potentially severely curtail your future employment potential (I know directly of a case where a fellow contractor was due to start on a project with me for a major bank, but at the last minute Security & Compliance stepped in & vetoed him on his disclosure of a drink-driving conviction a few years before... i.e. nothing whatsoever to do with the task in hand).

On top of that, you could also make things considerably more difficult for yourself if you sell the place.

[RichardS]

> So, for a worst case scenario you could end up with a criminal record, a

I should add that this is the worst case scenario for breach of the building regs.

If the work is compliant, then worst is probably that you'll have to apply for regularisation (think that's more expensive than building notice application at the time) , but it could mean that you need to espose the installed lintel.

Which is all a PITA.

[Ian Middleton]

A friend of mine put in an offer on a house and when his solicitor did a search and got original land plans and there was now a large porch on front of house (around a new door, original entrance being at the side) and a new attached garage (around original door) which upon further investigation had not had planning permission. Solicitor said pull-out which he did and council got involved and all got rather messy. House owner accusing my friend of grassing to council building inspector etc etc where as it was probably the solicitor asking for the plans that triggered the council investigation.

Last I heard (many years ago) was house was off the market, council would not give retrospective planning permission as back door was through garage (something like that) and a charge was being made against the property (what ever that is) by the council as they were going to demolish/fix the problem.

[The Natural Philosopher]

I suspect you need planning approval more then BCO approval. Chat to local planning dept.

All teh BCO will do is come and resuure himself you know what you are doing, and make sure the door is good and snug, draughtfree and not made of superconducting materials..

Its no big deal

[Peter Crosland]

If the council issue an enforcement notice requiring the owner to demolish and it is not complied with then the council can, with a court order, do the job themselves and bill the owner for the cost of doing so. They can also place a legal "charge" on the property that will prevent it being sold until the money is paid, with interest added as well. It is about to happen locally to a couple who built a bungalow without permission and have taken repeated court action to try and prevent the inevitable. So far the local council tax payers have had to foot the bill to the tune of some £150,000.