Home improvements - Print version

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For home improvements, Building Regulations approval will be needed. Ensuring that buildings are constructed to an agreed standard, the regulations are complex, but are essential to promote accessibility, health and safety and energy efficiency in the home.

As a homeowner, you're responsible for your home and any related building work. Works to your home, or the creation of new structures, will most likely need approval.

It is likely that even minor home improvements will require Building Regulations consent. This can be an extremely complex subject, please get in touch with our Building Control team if you want to discuss Building Regulations [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/building-control/building-regulations-approval/1] for your project.

Planning Portal

The Planning Portal is the national home for planning and building regulations information. At the Planning Portal you can:

Make a Building Control application [https://buildingcontrol.planningportal.co.uk/]

The Planning Portal can also help you:

Building control

Address: PO Box 15
Council House
Earl Street
Coventry
CV1 5RR

Telephone: 024 7683 2057 [tel:02476832057]

Building works that require approval

Most house extensions will require approval. Other popular home improvements that require approval include:

This is not a complete list however. If you're unsure whether you require Building Regulations approval please contact Building Control.

Building control

Address: PO Box 15
Council House
Earl Street
Coventry
CV1 5RR

Telephone: 024 7683 2057 [tel:02476832057]

Building works that do not need approval

There are a number of common improvements that do not require approval, such as:

  • all work completed by a member of a Competent Person Scheme [http://www.competentperson.co.uk/]
  • most conservatories, car ports, detached garages and porches
  • typical garden sheds
  • garden fences and walls

This is again not a complete list and if you’re unsure whether approval is needed, it is always best to contact Building Control.

Building control

Address: PO Box 15
Council House
Earl Street
Coventry
CV1 5RR

Telephone: 024 7683 2057 [tel:02476832057]

Selecting the right builder

Ensuring your home improvements comply with Building Regulations is your responsibility. Selecting a competent builder helps ensure this. To avoid choosing a poor quality builder you should:

  • get a plan of the work to be done
  • get the right consents and permissions
  • ask friends and family for recommendations
  • ask to see previous and ongoing work
  • get at least 3 quotations
  • obtain a written contract
  • ensure they have the right insurances in place
  • not pay in advance
  • agree to pay final settlement upon receipt of the building control completion certificate

Further advice to help select the best builder for the job is available from the No Rogue Traders Here [https://www.noroguetradershere.com/] scheme, which aims to promote reliable traders. You should also choose a builder that is a member of reputable trade organisation such as:

Find a registered electrician

View a register of electricians belonging to the various competent person schemes [https://www.electricalcompetentperson.co.uk].

Other permissions needed

In some cases, other authorisation will be needed before work starts. Advice on what other permission may be needed is available at the Planning Portal [https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200128/building_control], and for you it may include seeking approval for:

Planning Portal online manuals and interactive guides

The Planning Portal [https://www.planningportal.co.uk/] is a good source of information for many areas of Building Regulations approval and Planning Permission. With easy to understand online manuals and interactive guides, common home refurbishment projects are well covered, whilst it also provides:

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