Guide to building regulation charges

If the work has been constructed without the benefit of either a Full Plans application or Building Notice then you may apply for the unauthorised work to be Regularised.  This option is only available for work commenced on or after 11th November 1985.

The following charges are applicable:-

Charge Tables

• Table A: Charges for small domestic dwellings  
• Table B: Domestic Extensions 
• Table C1: Alterations and other works up to the value of £30,000 
• Table C2: Alterations and other works between the values of £30,001 and £60,000 
• Table C3: Alterations and other works between the values of £60,001 and £90,000 
• Table C4: Alterations and other works between the values of £90,001 and £120,000 
• Guidance notes

Using the Charge Tables 

Value Added Tax - is payable for all works except where a Regularisation application is made.

Full Plans - The Plan Charge must be paid on the deposit of the plans with the Council.

Building Notices - The Charge (Plan Charge plus Inspection Charge) must be paid when the Notice is submitted to the Council.

Inspection Charge is payable after the local authority has carried out the first inspection.  The charge is a single payment intended to contribute towards the cost of all the inspections that are carried out on that work.

Regularisation Charge - This is 120% of the Building Notice Charge.  VAT is not applicable.

Exemption - A charge is not payable for certain categories of work consisting of the provision of facilities solely for the disabled.  "Disabled person" means a person who is within any of the descriptions of persons to whom Section 29 of The National Assistance Act 1948 applies.

Total Estimated Cost - This means a reasonable estimate that would be charged by a professional builder, but excluding professional fees and VAT.  If the estimate is either considered to be unreasonable or is not supplied, the application will not be considered to be legally deposited.

Extensions over 60m2 – Where an extension to a dwelling, the total floor area of which exceeds 60m2, including means of access and work in connection with that extension, the charge is based on the estimated cost of the work in accordance with Tables C1 to C4 subject to the sum of the plan charge and the inspection charge or the building notice charge being not less than the charge payable for category 3 in Table B. 

Loft conversions – Where an extension or alteration to a dwelling consists of the provision of one or more rooms in a roof space not exceeding 40m² the charge is based upon category 4 in Table B.  Where the floor area exceeds 40m² the charge is based on the estimated cost of the work in accordance with Tables C1 to C4 subject to the sum of the plan charge and the inspection charge or the building notice charge being not less than category 4 in Table B.

Alterations carried out in connection with domestic extensions and loft conversions included in Table B – When it is intended to carry out additional building work on a dwelling up to a value of £5,000 at the same time as the construction of a domestic extension with a floor area not exceeding 60m² and loft conversions included in Table B, a reduction in the charge for these alterations is applied as outlined in Table B, categories 1a, 2a, 3a and 4a.

Multiple Works - Where the work comprises or includes the erection of more than one extension to a single residential property, then the total floor areas of all such extensions should be aggregated together and if the combined floor area exceeds 60m², then Tables C1 to C4 should be used to calculate fee based upon the estimated cost of all the works.

Minor Works - Where the work is estimated as costing under £ 5,000 the total charge is payable on deposit of the plans.

The replacement of doors and windows to an existing property now requires the submission of an application where the contractor is not FENSA registered.  The charge for this type of application is £85 inclusive of VAT.

Applications are also required for the installation of notifiable electrical works not carried out by a Registered Competent Person as outlined under Approved Document P.  If these works are carried out in connection with other building works, the charges for the electrical works are already included.  However, if it is intended to carry out electrical works in isolation to any other building works and these works are not carried out by a Registered Competent Person, charges for these works will be £170 inclusive of VAT.  The charge for Regularisation applications will be based upon 120% of the estimated cost of the works.

For details of charges in respect of the erection of small domestic houses with a floor area up to 300m² and not more than three storey’s high, please see Table A.

Installments - In certain cases (i.e. particularly charges for major schemes) the Council may agree that part of any charge may be paid by instalments, on specified dates by agreement in writing.

Resubmissions - Where the plans have either been approved or rejected, no further charge is payable on resubmission of a Full Plans application or the giving of a Building Notice for substantially the same work.

Failure to pay Plan Charge - The plans are not legally deposited unless accompanied by the appropriate plan charge payable in respect of the plans.

Failure to pay Building Notice Charge - A Building Notice is not legally deemed to be given unless accompanied by the appropriate Building Notice Charge payable in respect of the Notice.

ALL CHEQUES SHOULD BE MADE PAYABLE TO: HERTSMERE BOROUGH COUNCIL

If you have any difficulties in calculating the charge, please contact the Building Control Unit on T: 020 8207 7456 or email: building.control@hertsmere.gov.uk

These notes are for guidance only and do not substitute for Statutory Instrument 1998 No 3129 The Building (Local Authority Charges) Regulations.