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
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
- occupation (where applicable)
- 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 roof timbers) 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 |
|---|---|
| Start of works | 2 days |
| Foundation inspection | 2 days |
| Foundation concrete | 2 days |
| Damp proof courses and membranes | 2 days |
| Before backfilling drains and sewers | 2 days |
| After backfilling drains and sewers | 5 days |
| After completion | 5 days |
| Before completion | 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 indicates to the Fire Brigade 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 when you pay a fee (£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 are during office hours 9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and up to 4.30pm on a Friday.If these hours don`t suit, we provide a service every Saturday morning from 9am to 1pm all year round.
During the lighter evenings from April to September, inspections can be arranged up to 8pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings.
If you need an inspection outside these hours, please contact us to see if we can help you.
Remember - contact us before 10am if you need the inspection the same day.
Contact information
Telephone: 028 9027 0650Fax: 028 9043 8805
24 hour answering service: 028 9023 6672
Email: buildingcontrol@belfastcity.gov.uk
