Building Regulations

[Remeboy]

Hi, I have a new neighbour who is doing an awful lot of alterations to the inside of his house. I have checked the lists posted on my councils "planning applications," nothing has appeared there, but does "Building Regulations" come under a different heading?. Would appreciate your help.

[Jules001]

The work we are having done at the moment only needs Building Regs and not Planning Permission and as such doesn't appear online under the planning applications. I think, that as it is indoors and not likely to affect anyone else, there is no need for anyone else to be informed of the work. We did however, tell our neighbours about the work and make sure the Builders comply with the necessary rules about how early in the morning they can start banging etc.

[CheekyChops]

Why are you bothered about what someone is doing to the inside of their house? Is it a semi or terraced and attached to you?

[buildersmate]

Jules is correct and there is no link between Planning Permission and Building Regulations approval. Some jobs need either one or the other, some need both.
Building Regs is about establishing the house is built to good standards. It is not a consultative process involving others and you have no right to the information, except that if you believe that building works might undermine or damage your own home you could contact them.

[Ethel]

There are occasions when the third party wall notice is applicable, such as loft conversions in a semi or terraced house. In this sort of work, the extra weight can affect the party wall and you have to be informed.

Anything else - no, you do not need to be informed or consulted in any way.

[Remeboy]

Hi, Cheeky Chops & Buildersmate, thank you for answering. We are at the end of Terraced houses, my new neighbour is knocking walls about and apparentley converting the small front bedroom into a bathroom. The sewer pipe at the moment runs along the rear of the houses, he says he does not intend to use a noisey "Saniflow", but to pass the pipe through the floor joists. I think it all sounds a bit "iffy" as there is not enough fall. Years ago when we had our rear small bedroom converted into a bathroom, the council insisted that we studded and insulated the party wall. Personally, I think he does not have any Building Regs permission.

[buildersmate]

Cutting holes in floor joists to take a normal 110mm waste pipe certainly requires BR approval - its a structural aspect of Part A.
Installing waste systems requires BR approval - its part of the Drainage aspects of Part G.