Application *
Once you have submitted our application form back to us (please see our ‘call to action’ icons on our home page or running down the side of other pages to obtain forms), an Approved Inspector is required to check the details and then submit an Initial Notice to the Local Authority, and register the work for future land searches.

They require 5 working days for this during which building work should not start on site (otherwise our Notice will be voided and the work will return to LA control).

Our application form can be submitted to us at London Building Control by email, fax or post.

* Once you have submitted our application form back to us (please see home page to obtain forms).

Fee
The relevant fee, which needs to be agreed with LBC Ltd, should be submitted (usually in full along with the application).

A Fee Quotation can also be filled out on our website or a fee can be agreed by e-mailing LBC. Fees are usually based upon the complexity of the work, the cost of works and the location of the site, and are generally competitive.

WE NOW ACCEPT ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS – just ring our offices or go online to make a payment.

Processing The Initial Notice

Once deposited by us at the council, the Local Authority should check the details of our Initial Notice within 5 working days – the LA can reject the notice if the details are found to be incorrect. If there are no objections to the IN format within this time works can then commence on site. (Note : Initial Notices cannot be used for retrospective works or works which have already commenced and it is therefore imperative that works should not be started prior to the IN being submitted to and accepted by the LA).

Our clients may also request a Plans Certificate, which means that the plans and details provided have been checked and deemed to comply with the Building Regulations. Before this can be issued, all the information required must be submitted to us and all the necessary consultations completed satisfactorily (i.e. with the Fire Authorities, Sewerage Undertakers, Engineers etc).

Commercial Work and Flats
The AI usually has to consult the the Fire Authority regarding commercial properties HMO’s and where flats have communal areas.

New Building Or Extensions (at or below ground level)
London Building Control has to consult the Sewerage Undertaker, to ensure that there are no public sewers in the vicinity (usually within 3m). For this reason a location plan (at a scale not less than 1:1250) needs to be sent to us to pass on to the LA and Sewerage Undertaker (usually Thames Water in and around London). For such work, the IN cannot be processed without the location plan showing the footprint of the proposed works; new buildings also need to also show the proposed connections to sewers on the location plan.

Inspections
The developer or builder should notify London Building Control at the relevant stages of building work so that inspections can be made (i.e. notifications for commencement, foundations, drains, damp proof courses, etc). However at the first visit (which is often when foundation excavations or drains are ready for inspection) the Site Inspector will put in place a site regime for inspections.

Completion
At satisfactory conclusion of works, London Building Control will issue a Final Certificate to the LA for their records, with a copy to the client. (Note: Final certificates should be issued by LBC to the reach the LA within 4 weeks of occupation for commercial work and flats and 8 weeks for domestic work; please ensure we have the necessary documentation, so that we are in a position to issue the Final Certificate, otherwise works may revert to LA control).

Whilst setting out briefly the process of the Approved Inspector service, the full statutory duties for all relevant parties should be referred to in the Building Act, Building Regulations, Approved Inspector Regulations, etc.