Building Control in the UK is a system designed to ensure that construction work complies with the minimum standards set out in the Building Regulations. These regulations cover aspects such as structural integrity, fire safety, energy efficiency, accessibility, ventilation, and more.
The role of Building Control is to protect the public interest by ensuring that buildings are safe, healthy, and sustainable. Whether you’re building a new home, extending a property, or carrying out major renovations, you must usually obtain Building Control approval.
Registered Building Inspectors (or Building Control Officers/Surveyors) assess plans before work begins and carry out site inspections during construction to ensure compliance.
Once the work is completed and meets the necessary standards, a Completion Certificate is issued.
Failing to comply with Building Regulations can lead to enforcement action, extra costs, or problems when selling the property.
The Building Control regulatory function can be serviced by two regulators the Local Authority (LA) or Registered Building Control Approvers (RBCA). When you employ an RBCA you firstly appoint ACT RBCA who will serve an Initial Notice (IN) to the LA.
An IN is a legal notification that the Building Control function will be undertaken by an RBCA and is registered by LA. This notification then has 5 working days to be accepted by the LA and as such works should not start within this period. If works were to start in this period, the LA may reject the IN and as such the works will come under there control.
Due to the above ACT RBCA is unable to accept applications for projects which have started or for retrospective applications of already completed works.
Each construction project is distinctive, and the stages of inspection can vary. The average key stages for a project include foundations, walls, roofs, structural elements such as steelwork, damp proofing, drainage, insulation, ventilation, fire safety, access, and any other general health and safety matters which are found in the Building Regulation ‘functional requirements’.
At each inspection we will release our site inspection reports to the named parties on the application, in addition we will share our next required inspection with the appointed Principal Contractor during our visit.
We request that you give us 48hrs notice for all required inspections, this enables us to ensure that you are with the same RBI attends, or where another inspector is required due to annual leave or any other reason the replacement RBI can familiarise themselves with the project.
If you are planning to build over or within three metres of a public sewer, you must first obtain approval from the relevant Water Authority. After we receive your application, we will consult with the Water Authority and advise you of their response which is a statutory requirement under the Building Regulations.
This approval is essential to ensure that the sewer remains undamaged and accessible for maintenance and use. ACT BC oversees works involving minor public sewers—those 225mm or less in diameter, under 3 metres deep, and where less than 6 metres of the sewer is affected, with unrestricted access.
Since requirements may vary between Water Authorities, we strongly recommend seeking professional guidance and securing all necessary permissions before starting any work. Contact details and further information regarding your local Water Authority can be found at ofwat.gov.uk.
Any work involving electrical systems or gas appliances must be carried out by a qualified professional. This means the person completing the work must be registered with a recognised Competent Person Scheme for electrical work or be Gas Safe registered for gas installations.
If a registered professional is completing the work, they can self-certify that it meets Building Regulations. In such cases, and where no other building work is taking place, a separate application may not be required.
However, if this work is part of a larger project, and is being completed by registered competent persons, ACT will not be responsible for certifying the electrical or gas elements. These aspects will be excluded from our involvement, and you will need to obtain separate certification directly from your installer.
For more information, visit: gov.uk/building-regulations-competent-person-schemes
Building projects can be complex, and understanding Building Regulations may not be your area of expertise. To achieve a successful outcome, it’s essential to have a competent and experienced team in place.
This understanding has now become a cornerstone of any application for Building Regulations, as under the revised Building Regulations stemming from the Building Safety Act 2022 all projects must have an appointed Principal Designer and Principal Contractor, who must issue a Compliance Declaration to the Building Control undertaking the works. In addition, if you are a commercial client who is not a domestic client, i.e. you intend to gain financially from the project then you as the Client must sign a Compliance Declaration too.
Here are some ways to ensure your project runs smoothly…
We strongly recommend appointing a qualified designer—ideally someone you know or who comes highly recommended. If you’re unsure where to find one, professional bodies may be able to suggest reputable designers in your area.
A good designer will help develop plans that suit your needs while ensuring compliance with Building Regulations. Detailed drawings and specifications also help builders provide accurate quotes, plan the work efficiently, and serve as the foundation for a contract.
When choosing a builder, look for someone with a strong reputation—ideally through personal recommendations or work you’ve seen yourself. Be cautious about relying solely on online reviews unless they are well-verified.
Always request clear, itemised quotes and choose your contractor based on overall value and quality of service, not just price.
Finally, we strongly advise having a written agreement or contract in place before any work begins on site. While ACT is here to help with compliance, the success of your project relies heavily on the quality of your design and construction team.
While we always encourage you to seek professional and competent advice for your project, ACT is unable to recommend specific individuals or companies. As an independent Building Control Body, it’s important that we remain impartial and avoid any potential conflicts of interest.
That said, we’re happy to work collaboratively with your chosen professionals to help ensure your project complies with Building Regulations.
For help finding qualified advisers, you may wish to contact relevant professional bodies or seek recommendations from trusted sources.
Building Regulations set out the minimum standards for the design and construction of buildings in England and Wales. They help ensure buildings are safe, energy efficient, and accessible. While the core regulations are similar in both countries, there are some regional differences.
The current Building Regulations framework was introduced in 2010 and has been updated through various amendments since. These regulations apply when building work is carried out and cover areas such as structural integrity, fire safety, insulation, ventilation, and accessibility.
It’s important to remember that these are minimum standards. Depending on your needs or preferences, your designer or builder may work to higher specifications or include features that go beyond what the regulations require.
You can access the full legislation at: www.legislation.gov.uk
The UK Government also provides practical guidance through the Approved Documents, which support the regulations. While following them is not mandatory, doing so is the most straightforward way to demonstrate compliance.
You can view the Approved Documents here:
www.gov.uk/government/collections/approved-documents
If you have any questions about how Building Regulations apply to your project, ACT is here to help.
Once your project is finished and ACT is reasonably satisfied that the work complies with Building Regulations, we will issue a Final Certificate. This is an important document that you should keep for your records. A copy will also be sent to your Local Authority and added to the public register.
To issue the Final Certificate, we may request copies of relevant certificates and test results from your contractor(s). These documents help confirm that specific elements of the work—such as electrical, gas, insulation, or drainage—comply with regulations. The required documentation will vary depending on your project. Here at ACT we will guide you through the required certification at completion for your project.
In addition, your contractor(s) should provide you with operating instructions for any installed equipment or systems, along with details of any servicing or maintenance requirements.
Keeping all this documentation organised will be helpful for ongoing maintenance and may also be needed if you sell or lease the property in the future.
ACT is responsible for assessing your project against the minimum standards set out in the Building Regulations. If any part of the work does not meet these standards, steps must be taken to ensure compliance.
For domestic projects, a Final Certificate is typically issued within 8 weeks of the work being completed or the affected part of the building being occupied. For commercial projects, this period is 4 weeks from occupation. Extensions may be granted, but only if there is a reasonable expectation that the necessary corrections will be made.
Responsibility for compliance lies with the person carrying out the work—usually the builder—and you as the client. If compliance is not achieved, the Local Authority has the legal power to take enforcement action, which could include requiring the work to be rectified or pursuing prosecution in serious cases.
If ACT is unable to issue a Final Certificate due to unresolved non-compliance, we will be required to cancel our Initial Notice and refer the project to the Local Authority, who may then take appropriate enforcement steps. Additionally, the Local Authority may charge an extra fee for taking over the project through a process known as reversion.
To avoid these outcomes, we strongly recommend working with qualified professionals and addressing any issues promptly during the build.
We aim to provide a high standard of service, but if you’re not fully satisfied, please get in touch with us directly. We welcome the opportunity to discuss any concerns and will do our best to resolve the issue quickly and fairly.
If you’re still unhappy after speaking with us, ACT has a formal complaints procedure you can follow to seek further resolution. Full details can be found in this PDF: Complaints Procedure – ACT Building Control