Inspection

During construction building control staff may inspect the works, and the local authority must be notified when building work begins and at specified stages during the works. Tests of drains, sound insulation, or other matters may be required to establish compliance with the regulations.

Completion

Before the building may be occupied a certificate of completion is required. This provides formal confirmation that the building work has been carried out in accordance with the building warrant and with the building regulations, so far as the local authority can ascertain from their inspection. Quite apart from the legal implications, failure to obtain warrants and completion certificates can have serious practical consequences, especially for householders seeking to sell their homes. Buyers' solicitors and lending institutions often wish to see these documents in connection with property sales. Where work has been carried out that does not comply with the regulations the local authority can require changes to be made to bring it up to standard. This can impose considerable additional expense on owners.

Additional Arrangements

In order to cope with exceptional circumstances, there are arrangements to permit relaxation from or dispensation of requirements in the regulations. The power to decide these cases rests with local authorities, which can advise on how to apply for a relaxation (and on how to appeal if an applicant feels particularly aggrieved by a refusal or the conditions attached to a decision to relax). In the case of relaxations only, appeal is to the Scottish Executive, not the Sheriff Court. Reasons for relaxation can include, for example, difficulties posed in alteration work. The key consideration is whether, in a particular case, it is unreasonable for specific requirements to apply. If a relaxation application concerns a departure from regulation 13 on means of escape from fire the local authority must consult the fire authority before issuing a decision.

Staged warrants: Local authorities may issue a warrant subject to agreement on later phases of work. This procedure, often known as a staged warrant, allows construction to begin before design is complete. The applicant choosing to build in this way will be required to show that any work to be commenced does comply, and that later phases comply before being permitted to proceed with them.

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