All work requiring Building Control Regulation Approval must be properly certified in order for a two or five year licence to be granted.
When an application is made for a two or five year licence, the team will check the Building Control records to establish that all applications have been properly certified and marked as completed.
If we find that work has not been properly certified (i.e. issued with a completion certificate) then the application for a longer licence will be rejected. The landlord must take action to remedy the issue. The action required will depend on when the work was undertaken.
Check building control records online
You can check the building control records for any property in Oxford.
See how to view a building control application.
Applications submitted less than ten years ago
For all work where a Building Regulation Application was submitted under 10 (ten) years ago, then a completion certificate must be obtained – either from building control (there may be a reactivation fee charged by Building Control for this), or, if applicable, from an approved inspector.
The completion certificate must be sent in with the two / five checklist or during the representation period otherwise the landlord will be issued with a one year licence and then can resolve the issue over the coming year and reapply for a two year licence next time.
Applications submitted over ten years ago
For work where a Building Regulation Application was submitted over 10 (ten) years ago, we will expect the landlord/agent to ask building control if it is possible to obtain a completion certificate.
It's most likely that a certificate can be obtained for work just over 10 years old and there may be a reactivation fee charged by Building Control for this.
If a certificate can't be obtained
If it's not possible to get a certificate you'll need to obtain a record from building control of the work that was inspected. There may be a fee charged by Building Control for providing this information.
The HMO licensing team will then make a judgement on a case-by-case basis of whether we can accept additional evidence that it is likely the work has been completed in accordance with building regulations. This is only for the purposes of HMO licensing and does not fulfil the Building Control requirements.
The evidence must be sent in with the two / five checklist or during the representation period otherwise the landlord will be issued with a one-year licence and then can resolve the issue over the coming year and reapply for a two-year licence next time.
- All items inspected by building control however minor certification was not submitted at the time (e.g. electrical installation certification not supplied at the time however there is more recent electrical installation condition report with no C1/2 items). The landlord to provide the current copy of the missing certification.
- The building work / application is to a part of the property to which the tenants have infrequent or no access (e.g. a garage or outbuilding used for storage), provided that the works do not affect the structural performance or the fire safety of the rest of the building.
- Single storey extensions with no requirement for structural steel beams - the foundations, damp proof course, and any underground drainage elements were inspected by building control and passed. The walls and roof have been inspected by competent person and no evidence of structural movement found or water ingress. Internal drainage elements plumbed correctly as assessed by competent person. All works relating to fire safety and means of escape can be shown to be compliant. Current electrical inspection certificate submitted and no C1/2 items.
- Single storey extensions with requirements for structural beams – the foundations, damp proof course, underground drainage elements and structural beams were inspected by building control and passed. Walls and roof have been inspected by competent person and no evidence of structural movement found or water ingress. Internal drainage elements plumbed correctly as assessed by competent person. All works relating to fire safety and means of escape can be shown to be compliant. Current electrical inspection certificate submitted and no C1/2 items.
- Two (or more) storey extensions or loft conversions – all work from foundations to placement of roof timbers were inspected by building control and passed. The roof inspected by competent person and no evidence of water ingress found. Internal drainage elements plumbed correctly as assessed by competent person. Current electrical inspection certificate submitted and no C1/2 items. All works relating to fire safety and means of escape can be shown to be compliant. Current fire alarm certificate submitted to cover the extension / conversion area.
A “competent person” would be a structural surveyor or building surveyor or builder with a qualification (e.g. City and Guilds qualification covering whole house construction elements).
Work subject to a Regularisation Application
For work that is subject to a Regularisation Application, and for works that need to be subject to a Reversion Application (where Final Certificates are not able to be produced by an Approved Inspector for example they no longer exist, or works need to be handed back to the Local Authority), then copies of the Regularisation Certificate or the Completion Certificate will need to be provided from Building Control.
The Regularisation Certificate or Completion Certificate must be sent in with the two / five checklist or during the representation period otherwise the landlord will be issued with a one year licence and then can resolve the issue over the coming year and reapply for a two year licence next time.
Unauthorised work (building control contraventions)
For unauthorised building work, where a Building Control Application was not made prior to starting the works, then these works will need to be subject to a Regularisation Application to Building Control and a Regularisation Certificate will need to be obtained.
The Regularisation Certificate must be sent in with the two / five checklist or during the representation period otherwise the landlord will be issued with a one year licence and then can resolve the issue over the coming year and reapply for a two year licence next time.
