What is a Building Regulations Completion Certificate?

What is a Building Regulations Completion Certificate?

A building regulations completion certificate is the official document that confirms building control has inspected works at your property and that they comply with the Building Regulations. It is issued by either your Local Authority Building Control (LABC) or an approved inspector once the work is finished and signed off.

The certificate is separate from planning permission. Planning permission says you are allowed to build something; the completion certificate says it was built correctly.

Which Works Require a Completion Certificate?

Not all home improvements need building regulations approval, but most structural or safety-critical works do. You will need a completion certificate for:

• Extensions and conservatories (above certain sizes)
• Loft conversions, including dormer windows
• Garage conversions
• New bathrooms (where drainage work is involved)
• Full electrical rewiring or new consumer units
• Boiler replacements and new central heating systems
• Structural alterations, removing load-bearing walls, underpinning
• New drainage systems

Works that do not generally require building regulations approval include like-for-like repairs and most decorating, though it is always worth checking with your local authority if you are unsure.

How to Get a Building Regulations Completion Certificate

1. Submit a building regulations application before works start, either a Full Plans application or a Building Notice

2. Notify building control at key stages (foundations, damp-proof course, structural openings, insulation)

3. Request a final inspection once works are complete

4. Receive your completion certificate once the inspector is satisfied

The certificate is usually issued within a few days of the final inspection.

What Happens If a Completion Certificate is Missing?

This is one of the most common issues that arises during property transactions.

1. Apply to the Local Authority for Historic Records

Local authorities retain building control records. Contact the building control department for the relevant council with the property address and approximate date of the works. They may be able to provide a copy.

2. Regularisation Certificate

If works were carried out without approval but are accessible for inspection, you can apply for a regularisation certificate. A building control officer will inspect and issue a certificate if the works comply.

3. Indemnity Insurance

If obtaining a certificate is not possible, your solicitor will typically recommend indemnity insurance, a one-off premium that protects you and future buyers against enforcement action.

Why This Certificate Matters When Selling

Solicitors acting for buyers will ask for completion certificates as part of conveyancing. If one is missing, the buyer's solicitor will almost certainly raise it as an enquiry. Without resolution, a sale can stall.

Having your completion certificates in order before you go to market removes one of the most common points of friction in a property sale. You can upload your building regulations completion certificates to Property Passport UK so they are ready to share with your solicitor or estate agent the moment you decide to sell.

Top Tips

• Apply for building regulations before works start, not after
• Request your completion certificate in writing once the final inspection is done
• Keep the certificate permanently, it has no expiry date
• Check your title register at HM Land Registry if you are unsure what works a previous owner carried out