Home improvements: Would you know when to notify your local authority?
Around half of householders still don’t realise that seemingly simple work carried out in their bathrooms or kitchens needs to be checked by building control experts both before the work commences and afterwards, according to research released today.
Almost half (45%) of Brits say they were unaware of the requirement to notify their local authority’s Building Control Office when the work has been carried out. While, according to the survey by the National Association for Professional Inspectors and Testers (NAPIT), one in twenty (5%) knew that they had to but didn’t make the effort.
This applies both inside the house when installing things such as spotlights, extractor fans or shaving sockets in a bathroom or kitchen, and also outside the house, from a wiring a hot tub to electric lights in a greenhouse or shed.
Not reporting your DIY updates aren’t just illegal – they’re also terribly dangerous. Homeowners who fail to have their local building control departments about any electrical or plumbing re-fits checked face prosecution, as well as a far higher likelihood of fires and floods if the work is of poor quality.
But there is help available for you. Members of NAPIT’s Competent Persons scheme have been assessed and are qualified to take on specific electrical and plumbing work without it needed to be inspected afterwards, and they take on legal liability if anything goes wrong.
However, of those Brits planning major electrical or plumbing work in their homes over the next six months, currently only one in ten would think to source a tradesman through this scheme, preferring instead to go on a friend’s recommendation, use a friend or neighbour, or tackle it themselves.
The Chief Executive of NAPIT – John Andrews went on to say “Whilst we would strongly recommend that you follow the advise of friends and relatives as to the standard of workmanship from a tradesman, the research shows that a significant number of homeowners (and tenants) don’t realise that much of the work they may have done on their homes is controlled under the Building Regulations and you must either notify your Local Authority Building Control Department before the work starts or alternatively use someone on a Government licensed scheme like NAPIT’s whose members are authorised to Self Certify their work.
Andrews went on to say “What is often overlooked is that work carried out which should have been notified to Building Control can also adversely affect both the possibility of a sale and the eventual purchase price and to give homeowners more peace of mind all the work carried out by NAPIT registered Electricians and Plumbers that is notified to NAPIT on completion, is covered by our member Work Quality Guarantee scheme – don’t fall foul of the law – Use a NAPIT Registered Tradesman”
For more information visit napit.org.uk.
