Book an inspection
Starting workWhen should you contact us?
What if you don`t tell us at the right stage?
Completion of work
Arranging inspections
Book a site inspection
Starting work
You can start work any time after you have made an application, providing you give us at least 48 hours notice. Anyone carrying out work (you or your builder, if you have one) should contact us when you reach the following stages:- at the start of the works
- excavating foundations
- foundation concrete
- damp-proof course
- site hard-core
- site concrete
- drainage
- completion
We need to carry out inspections of the work as it progresses so that we can give you the best possible service. Our surveyors may need to call at other stages of the work not listed above (for example, when the roof timbers are in place) and we would like your help to do this is.
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When should you contact us?
Building regulations give the minimum times when you need to contact us:| Stage of work | Minimum notice |
|---|---|
| At the start of works | 2 days |
| Foundation inspection | 2 days |
| Foundation concrete | 2 days |
| Damp proof courses and membranes | 2 days |
| Before backfilling of drains and sewers | 2 days |
| After backfilling of drains and sewers | 5 days |
| After completion | 5 days |
| Before completion of works | 5 days |
To help you, we will try to call out to your property on the same day, provided you contact us before 10am.
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What if you don`t tell us at the right stage?
This might mean that our surveyors do not get the chance to inspect important work. When this happens, we do have power to have the work opened up so that we can see them and it may delay progress of the work.top of page
Completion of work
When we are happy that the works are complete, a Completion Certificate is issued.For buildings designated under the Fire Services (NI) Order, a Fire Safety Completion Certificate is issued as well. This certificate tells the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service that the works on-site meet approved standards. They will not normally ask for any additional works to be carried out.
Both certificates are issued free of charge (first copy only), to the agent or owner. You can have extra copies for a fee of £30.
When you are selling your property, your solicitor has to carry out certain checks to see that everything is in order before advising that the property can be sold.
Completion certificates show that we are happy with the work that was carried out. They can reduce the length of time it takes to sell your property.
If you tell us about the works at the right time and let us see the work as it goes along, we can help you by giving you your completion certificate as soon as the work is finished.
Otherwise, there may be a delay in giving you the certificate and any sale may be delayed.
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Arranging inspections
Most inspections take place during office hours - 9am to 5pm (Monday to Thursday) and up to 4.30pm (Fridays).If you need an inspection outside these hours, call us on 028 9027 0650 to see if we can help you.
Please get in touch before 10am if you need the inspection carried out on the same day.
Book a site inspection
You can use our online form to book a site inspection to be carried out by one of our surveyors.This service is available Monday to Friday, except on public and bank holidays. Please note: if you book an inspection before 10.00am one of our surveyors will carry it out that day, between 10.30am and 5pm. If the inspection is booked after 10.00am it will be carried out the next day.
You, or your builder, must inform us when the work starts and when you reach various stages of the work so we can inspect it and check it meets the building regulations.
When the work is finished, and we are satisfied with it, we will send you a completion certificate, confirming the work is in line with the building regulations.
You should keep this certificate in a safe place as you will need it if you sell the property in the future. If you need a copy of a certificate we have already issued, we will give you one free of charge.
Contact information
Building ControlFloor 5
9 Lanyon Place
Belfast
BT1 3LP
Telephone: 028 9027 0432
Fax: 028 9043 8805
Email: buildingcontrol@belfastcity.gov.uk
