Once building work has been completed, it's important to understand what documentation confirms the outcome of the Building Control process.
You may have heard the terms Building Regulations Completion Certificate or Final Certificate, but what do they mean, and why are they important?
In this guide, we explain what completion documentation is, when it is issued and why you should keep it safely for your property or project.
What is a Building Regulations Final/Completion Certificate?
A Building Regulations Final Certificate is commonly used to describe the documentation issued when the relevant Building Control process has been completed.
The exact document you receive will depend on the Building Control route used for your project.
For example, where a project has been assessed through a Registered Building Control Approver (RBCA), the relevant document is known as a Final Certificate.
Where the Local Authority Building Control route has been used, the Local Authority may issue a completion certificate.
These documents provide an important record of the Building Control process and should be kept with your property records.
What is a Final Certificate?
A Final Certificate is issued through the Registered Building Control Approver route when the relevant requirements for the project have been satisfied.
It is submitted to the relevant Local Authority and confirms that the Registered Building Control Approver considers the work described in the certificate to comply with the applicable Building Regulations requirements.
Before a Final Certificate can be issued, the necessary inspections, information and supporting documentation must be considered.
This may include:
Completion of the relevant building work.
Required site inspections.
Structural calculations or supporting technical information, where applicable.
Relevant installation or commissioning certificates.
Confirmation that outstanding matters have been addressed.
The information required will depend on the nature and scope of the project.
When is completion documentation issued?
Completion documentation is issued towards the end of the Building Control process, once the relevant work has been completed and the necessary requirements have been addressed.
A final inspection may be required, along with any outstanding certificates, photographs or supporting information.
If there are outstanding items, these may need to be resolved before the relevant completion documentation can be issued.
It is therefore important to keep in contact with your Building Control provider throughout the project and make sure any requested information is supplied.
Why is a completion certificate important?
Completion documentation provides an important record of the Building Control process.
It may be requested in a number of situations, including:
Selling a property - Solicitors and prospective buyers may ask for evidence that relevant building work has been subject to the appropriate Building Regulations process.
Remortgaging or refinancing - A lender or solicitor may request completion documentation as part of their checks.
Future property improvements - Keeping records of previous building work can be useful when planning further alterations or developments.
Property records - It provides useful evidence to retain alongside plans, approvals, guarantees and other documents relating to the property.
It is worth remembering that a certificate is not a guarantee of the quality of all workmanship or a warranty for the building.
What happens if I don't have a completion certificate?
If you cannot locate the completion documentation for previous building work, the first step is to establish which Building Control body dealt with the project.
You may be able to contact the relevant Local Authority or Registered Building Control Approver to enquire about the records available.
If building work was carried out without the required Building Regulations approval, a regularisation application to the Local Authority may be an option in certain circumstances. This is a separate process and does not automatically guarantee that a certificate will be issued.
The appropriate next steps will depend on the history and nature of the work.
How can Delta Building Control help?
At Delta Building Control, we support residential and commercial projects across Yorkshire, providing Building Control services through the Registered Building Control Approver route.
Our team works with clients, contractors and design professionals throughout the process, from plan assessments and site inspections through to the consideration of completion information.
We aim to make the Building Control process clear and straightforward, helping project teams understand what is required at each stage.
Have you got a project coming up?
Contact Delta Building Control to discuss your requirements and find out how we can support your project.
