Our Local Expert, Teignbridge and Torbay Our Local Expert, Teignbridge and Torbay 2015-16 | Page 4

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 are minimum standards to ensure that buildings are safe after work has been completed. Planning permission is to control what is built where. 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. 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. 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 (fuse box). 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 domestic boiler. You do not need to make an application if you use a registered installer who can self certify. Gas boilers can only be moved or installed by GASsafe registered installers. Installing replacement windows and doors requires an application for building regulations unless your installer is registered with FENSA (or there are many other self-certification 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 following phone numbers: City or District Building Planning Council control hotline 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