Building Control

Anyone here used a private practice for Building Control as opposed to the Local Authority offices?

If so, was the ability of the private practice to be so much more flexible on fee scales better value for you than the LA?

cheers

We do here.

They're cheaper and more flexible.

that's what I was thinking.

My project looks like it would slip into an "any other works" category where there's an arbitrary cost per m2 regardless of the number of inspections or the complexity. Comes out at 2x the normal new dwelling fee. bastids.

I've used "approved inspectors" mainly on commercial stuff not on domestic.
More flexible & generally cheaper but make sure that they know your patch.

just had a long chat with the building control guy at the LA.

What a farce their pricing is. No link with the cost of undertaking the control works to the fee. Based on the cost of my conversion project (straightforward one, no inspections over and above the bog standard excavations, floor build-up, dpm, waste, part p etc) they want to charge over twice as much as if I was building a new house from scratch. daft.

Anyway, long live the private sector, Ive got a building surveyor doing inspections for me anyway, Ill get him to do BC too.

They're LA. Were you really surprised?

I use approved inspectors all the time. Try Salus or STMC they are both very good.

if you do, don't forget that you need a letter at handover from the LA to state that the approved inspectors have undertaken the role as a deligated undertaker,

C

cheers chris, will try them out for a quote

you could also try:
Approved Design Consultancy Limited http://www.approveddesign.co.uk

web link for the approved inspectors
null

Butler & Young are worth a try, not sure if they are nationwide though.

HCD group are quite good too.

Both much better than the LA alternatives…

Sometimes we do sometimes not but ask your "Approved Inspector" how many inspections he will carry out?

the LA will carry out as many as you want or need.If you know what you're looking at/trust your builder implicitely 5 inspections might be enough,if not a lot having someone call whenever you want might be good
Afterall you know what they say about paying peanuts……

What LA are you dealing with? Try to speak to the Chief/Principal building control officer explain your problem see if they can help you out of it

Ive got a good idea how many inspections i'll need – no more than a new build.
had long, friendly, chat with the head guy – but he said his hands were tied.
£600 fee for new build under sched 1,
£1,600 fee for £200k single dwelling conversion project.
grrrrrr

what had you included in the £200k estimate?fit out,landscaping,decoration
vat?
most of the Corporate approve inspectors have a minimum fee of £1k +vat
if you want give me a call this pm 07957 274348 and I'll talk you through the loopholes in the fee regs
regards
andy(now in year 27 of building control)

I actually trimmed my Dev Ex figures to the bare minimum (£110k materials only), it would still come to a fee in excess of £1300 on sched 3 table.

If I blagged it at a really low rate (say £40k works = £600 fee), the guy said he wouldnt accept the quote and would just use their in house rate of £800/sqm build cost (300sqm) as an estimate instead = £240k

Better quotes are coming in around the £1000-£1300 so Im happy to go private. The LA guy was pretty insistent there was no way he was going to budge on the fee basis.

thansk for your help though.

quote accepted at £900+VAT after shopping around.
much better.

Now what else can the government privatise? I know, they should have a go at the post office! 😉

they already have….we have private competition who can hoover up what they percieve as the best work whilst we get left dealing with the loons, nut jobs,dross,we are not allowed a free reign on fees which if we did would put our market share back up to 90% and most of the AIs on the dole
We're better paid,have more holidays,work from home and yet don't cost the council anything.

Am I biased?? yes but's that because I know LABC is better for the buildings owner,I'm sorry the LA couldn't have been more creative,we would be but then we'd like the work
rant over and relax ……….

Stoner,
Mean while make sure the LA have accepted the AIs Initial Notice before you start work or else the job will revert to the LA and we do like a pound of flesh 😆
Hope the build goes well

cheers andy.
Ive just completed the initial notice form through which the AI notify my LA. Should be fine…but I wont hold my breath.

TBH I would have preferred to use the LA, they have a good reputation…but…there's following your head, your heart and your wallet to consider 🙂

BTW, you might like this:

I was having a beer with a builder mate and talking to him about BC stuff. His view of our LA was that while they were good, there was a new inspector in the team…a woman…:)

He's normally a very straightforward, liberal, no prejudice kind of guy, but it shocked me when he said that he wasnt sure how good the LA would be in future because of their new female inspector – his opinion being that she would probably be much harder to deal with, less flexible and pragmatic about what happens on the site and the design decisions that are needed to be made etc.

what's your experience?

hmmm,it's normally the box fresh staff members that lack flexibility but that's just because they lack experience,although his attitude to women might affect what happens too……

I tell builders who build the stuff I design to make friends with the BCO because as we have so much discretion now they can spend your money if they are hacked off

Meanwhile I'm remodelling/extending my house and using an AI for exactly the same reason as you(well 700 of them)……. and if you do ever need a bit of building control advice drop me a mail

although his attitude to women might affect what happens too……

that's what I was thinking. They can smell your fear, women. Show no weakness or they'll eat you 🙂

cheers for the offer Andy, very kind, I will bear that in mind.
Its all a steep learning curve, but quite enjoyable apart from the odd expensive shock 😉