Building Control Issue

[Deleted member 317033]

Hi all I was hoping someone could give me some advice. Back in November last year the local authority gave the go ahead for a family member to have an accessible extension built because of wheelchair disability needs, as of today it still hasn't been fully finished due to a number of issues. The plans said that the builder had to contact building control to come out and inspect 4 different stages (foundations, DPC, drains and preplaster) we have found out that they only came for the first 2.

I originally contacted them because a building control inspector came out to the property and he was asking if we had any photos of the works behind the plaster and roof as they hadn't seen anything since the DPC stage. I have been going back and forth trying to find out exactly what they have seen but they are being very evasive. I finally got an email that confirms the builder failed to notify them at certain stages but it says they have spoken to him and are satisfied with his answers. This builder has since been removed from the project as the council said his work is far below the standard they expect and at that time it had run over by 4 months.

They are now trying to sign it off but we are really worried that they haven't actually seen the work behind the plaster and especially so because the surface level work is extremely poor. Should we be trying to take his further or are they in the right?

Thanks

 

[noseall]

Hi all I was hoping someone could give me some advice. Back in November last year the local authority gave the go ahead for a family member to have an accessible extension built because of wheelchair disability needs, as of today it still hasn't been fully finished due to a number of issues. The plans said that the builder had to contact building control to come out and inspect 4 different stages (foundations, DPC, drains and preplaster) we have found out that they only came for the first 2.

I originally contacted them because a building control inspector came out to the property and he was asking if we had any photos of the works behind the plaster and roof as they hadn't seen anything since the DPC stage. I have been going back and forth trying to find out exactly what they have seen but they are being very evasive. I finally got an email that confirms the builder failed to notify them at certain stages but it says they have spoken to him and are satisfied with his answers. This builder has since been removed from the project as the council said his work is far below the standard they expect and at that time it had run over by 4 months.

They are now trying to sign it off but we are really worried that they haven't actually seen the work behind the plaster and especially so because the surface level work is extremely poor. Should we be trying to take his further or are they in the right?

Thanks

Building Control would not concern themselves with quality issues unless it affects conformity.
Did you take any photos?

 

[Deleted member 317033]

I didn't take any no. I know they are not concerned with quality but I mentioned that because the builder has cut corners everywhere else (the tiles are currently falling off the bathroom floor for example) so my concern is that he hasn't completed the works safely and to specification (other areas have not followed the plans also)

 

[noseall]

I didn't take any no. I know they are not concerned with quality but I mentioned that because the builder has cut corners everywhere else (the tiles are currently falling off the bathroom floor for example) so my concern is that he hasn't completed the works safely and to specification (other areas have not followed the plans also)

BC won't have a remit for dodgy tiling. As for straying from the spec' or drawing - this again will depend whether it's Reg's relevant or not.

A job can be a total horses arse, but still satisfy BC and Reg's.

 

[Deleted member 317033]

BC won't have a remit for dodgy tiling. As for straying from the spec' or drawing - this again will depend whether it's Reg's relevant or not.

A job can be a total horses arse, but still satisfy BC and Reg's.

I understand this, the issue is that they have admitted that the builder didn't contact them at the last 2 stages of the build (drains and preplaster) and that they haven't seen or checked these things. They have said they are taking the builders word that it is all ok because it was finished before they found out. I only mentioned things like the tiles because if the surface level work is so bad what is to say the work in the roof and behind the plaster is all legit.

 

[^woody^]

Is this DFG grant work?

Building control are only really interested in major structural details and safety. They are also pragmatic as to whether they want to check works or take the builder's word.

 

[Deleted member 317033]

Is this DFG grant work?

Building control are only really interested in major structural details and safety. They are also pragmatic as to whether they want to check works or take the builder's word.

It is the local authority accessible homes team who authorized it. It is the structural work that hasn't been checked. They have not seen the drains or any of the preplaster work including the roof beams etc.

 

[^woody^]

Then you should refer to that team as they should normally be managing the works for scheme and specification compliance and for the quality issues. They in turn should liase with building control for b/regs compliance.

 

[Deleted member 317033]

Then you should refer to that team as they should normally be managing the works for scheme and specification compliance and for the quality issues. They in turn should liase with building control for b/regs compliance.

I did, they were the ones who got me the emails confirming no inspections took place, they are now saying that building control is signing the project off despite not seeing the work based on the builders word and they can't do anything.

 

[^woody^]

Then what's the actual issue if building control are prepared to sign off their parts of the works?

 

[Deleted member 317033]

Then what's the actual issue if building control are prepared to sign off their parts of the works?

They have admitted that they haven't seen or inspected the work.

 

[^woody^]

The inspectors can accept the builder's word.

If you want to make waves and try and insist on an inspection, and the works to be opened up - which if you piiss them off too much, they will insist on way more opening up and closer scrutiny than they may otherwise, then you may have to use the councils' complaints system or go via a legal action route to test if you can actually do that.

Then comes the issue of who is responsible for the opening up and the making good. Who is the homeowner, who is the applicant, who are the works for? (rhetorical). Because whoever that is pays for all of this. Even if you think it's not you but the DFG team, then it may well be that you still pay and then try and recover your costs from them.

So you probably need to be careful what you wish for.

 

[Deleted member 317033]

I don't think it is unreasonable to want to make sure the work is done to a safe standard especially because the builder was fired from the project because his work was found to be unsafe and to a very poor standard, more scrutiny would be welcome in this case as there seems to have been a complete lack of it (I have emails from building control confirming that the builder did not contact them at the stages set out in the plans and he just went ahead and finished the work)

If anything we should be the ones who should be angry at all this. The build was supposed to be finished and signed off on the 25th January but because of the builders terrible work we are looking at even more time to put everything right. For example, the whole wet room shower has to be completely re tiled as they started falling off the wall when the grab rails were used. Because he did such a terrible job with everything else I don't see it as making waves to have someone actually check his work to make sure it is safe and legit rather than taking his word for it which is frankly worthless at this point.

 

[Old Salt]

BC signed ours off from photos taken as work progressed. If its not signed off you will have trouble selling in the future. If you want to check its all okay, open it up and have a structural engineer/builder assess it.

 

[Deleted member 317033]

BC signed ours off from photos taken as work progressed. If its not signed off you will have trouble selling in the future. If you want to check its all okay, open it up and have a structural engineer/builder assess it.

This is the issue, they have admitted that they haven't seen the work or photos of it. They are saying they have spoken to the builder and are happy with his responses which is crazy considering he has been fired from the project because his surface level work has been classed as unsafe and awful quality.