Our Local Expert, Teignbridge and Torbay Nov. 2013 | Page 24

How to work well with tradespeople
Follow our step by step guide to ensuring you work well with the
tradespeople you find in Our Local Expert.
1. Before work begins – check legal
requirements
Building regulations approval is required for most
new buildings, extensions and usually required for
internal work such as removing a load bearing wall
or converting a garage.
You can contact your local Building Control
department free of charge to obtain up to date
information and advice.
Planning permission is usually required for most
new buildings, for major changes to existing
buildings and in areas where your permitted
development rights have been removed. Without
a planning system, everyone could construct
buildings or use land in any way they wanted, no
matter what effect this would have on other people
who live and work in that area.
Note that Building Regulations and Planning
Permission are totally separate. If you decide to
sell your house in the future, your buyer’s solicitor
will ask for a copy of all Building Regulations and
Planning consents. If you don’t have these, it could
hold up or even stop the sale of your house.
Many changes to your electrical wiring installations
require approval under ‘Part P’ of Building Control.
This includes all work in special locations within
bathrooms, any new circuits and the replacement

of a consumer unit. An electrician registered for
Part P will be able to self-certify the work without
the need for a Building Control application.
Building regulations will apply if you want to install
or move a gas boiler unless you use a GASsafe
registered installer who can self-certify. Similarly,
installing replacement windows and doors requires
an application unless your installer is registered
with FENSA (or there are many other selfcertification schemes for these works).
Renovating a thermal element now requires
approval and you will be required to upgrade the
thermal efficiency of the part of the building you are
working on. For example, replacing roof tiles will
require additional roof insulation, and re-rendering
an outside wall may require additional wall
insulation.
You also need to consider if your planned work has
implications on your neighbours. Even excavations
within 6m of your neighbour’s property might be
affected by the Party Wall Act. You can download or
ask for a printed guidance note on the Party Wall
act from your local Building Control department.
For more information and guidance see the
excellent ‘interactive house’ and ‘mini guides’ at
www.PlanningPortal.gov.uk, or use the information
below:

City or District Building control
Council
hotline

Planning

Building Control Website

Teignbridge

01626 215793

01626 215734

www.devonbuildingcontrol.gov.uk

Torbay

01803 208095

01803 207801

www.torbay.gov.uk/buildingcontrol.htm

2. Use a recommended tradesperson

5. Agree staged payments in advance

Our Local Expert is based entirely on local
recommendations. You can also ask neighbours and
local friends for recommendations. Ask to see your
chosen tradesperson’s Public Liability Insurance
(and check the expiry date). This should be up to
at least £500,000. Ask if they have done any work
locally that you could visit.

Try to agree your first payment to coincide with
materials delivered on site, and agree your final
stage payment only once you are happy to sign off
the completed work.

3. Get a written quotation, on headed
paper (as opposed to an ‘estimate’)
Cheaper is not necessarily better, especially if it
means you will need the work to be done again
in a few years time. Cheaper may mean corners
are being cut, or that parts used are of a lower
standard. Don’t be surprised if you have to pay
more, or if you have to wait for a good quality
contractor. Compare several quotes and ask why
the prices differ. Check if VAT is included (on both
work and materials), and if there is a call out
charge. Check if any guarantees are insurancebacked (in case the business should fold).

4. Agree