It is, of course, good advice to ensure that your builder provides you with a Building Regulations Completion Certificate from the local authority building control officer or approved inspector before you settle the final account. It is likely that you will need the certificate as evidence of compliance with the Regulations when you come to sell.
But what does the certificate actually mean?
There is a common misconception that the issue of a certificate from the inspecting body confirms that all of the works comply with the Regulations. Even when confronted with blatant defects, unscrupulous builders will offer the existence of a certificate as evidence that building control have ‘signed off’ the works and so they (the contractors) cannot be expected to carry out any remediation.
The officer will, using reasonable skill and care, inspect the works and certify that these comply with the Regulations; but it is not the building control officer’s job to ‘snag’ the works for the builder and, inevitably, circumstances will arise where non-compliant works are certificated in error.
The local authority has a duty to enforce the Regulations for up to two years after the works are completed. During the first year they can serve an enforcement notice on the builder; in the second year it is the owner who will be pursued.
Be aware, when procuring building works and, if in doubt, seek assistance from the local authority building control department or a chartered building surveyor.