Building Control Policies, Standards and Performance

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Building Control Performance Standards

As a progressive Building Control body committed to quality, independence and accountability, the Royal Borough of Kingston readily adopted the Building Control Performance Standards Document first published jointly in 1999 by the Construction Industry Council, the Local Government Association and the Association of Corporate Approved Inspectors.

Customer Care Policy

The Royal Borough’s Building Control Section is dedicated to providing the highest quality of services to its customers, residents and visitors to the Borough.

Building Control Enforcement Policy

The primary function of Kingston Building Control Services is to ensure that all building works, works of demolition and dangerous structures falling under its control, are dealt with in such a manner so as not to prejudice people’s health, safety and welfare.

The premise from which the Building Control Service operates is one of prevention rather than cure.  Thus, at an informal level, Building Control Staff are always willing to offer advice about the best ways of securing compliance both before and during building works.  Formal enforcement measures are laid down within the Building Regulations 2000 and the Building Act 1984.

The Building Control Enforcement Policy has been prepared in accordance with the Cabinet Office Enforcement Concordat.  This means that when carrying out enforcement, the Building Control service will be open about its actions, demonstrate fairness and impartially, take a consistent yet flexible approach, be considerate to complainants, treat matters with proportionality and assist service users wherever possible.

In the first instance it should be recognised that it is the responsibility of all designers, builders and building owners to make every effort to ensure that they comply with the requirements of the Building Regulations and associated legislation.

The Council has various means at its disposal to ensure that the legislative requirements enforced by the Building Control Service are met.  These range through:

• Giving verbal or written advice (together with contact name and telephone number)
• Guidance Notes and other educational aids
• Issuing verbal warnings and warning letters
• Serving Statutory Notices
• Prosecution through the Criminal Court

Senior and District Building Control Surveyors are professionally qualified and therefore competent in the handling of all cases.  Should Trainee or Assistant Building Control Surveyors be employed from time to time then senior staff will ensure that their workload is appropriate to their level of knowledge and experience and will closely supervise them.  In their dealings with people, all staff will be courteous and efficient.

When deciding on the degree of enforcement to exercise the Building Control Service will give consideration to the following:

• The seriousness of the offence in terms of its impact on people’s health, safety and welfare.
• The previous history of the offender(s).
• The consequences of non-compliance.
• Likely effectiveness of various enforcement options.

The choice of remedies available to the Building Control Service will range from:

• Taking no action.
• Taking informal action.
• Taking emergency action to carry out the work.
• Serving a statutory notice.
• Taking action in default.
• Prosecution.

Where emergency action becomes necessary the Building Control Service will make every effort to inform the owners before carrying out the work.  Criminal prosecutions may follow where there has been a serious offence or blatant disregard of the legislation.

All written or verbal communication will contain clear instructions as to what is required.  It will set out the legislative requirement considered not to have been met, the measures necessary to comply and any alternatives that will be considered.

A clear distinction will be made between what is goodwill advice and what is a statutory requirement.  Where appropriate, reasonable and realistic time limits will be set to allow remedies to be carried out.

Where there is an appeal procedure against a formal notice, this will be clearly explained and any time constraints made apparent.

Customer feedback

We undertake on-going customer surveys and continually review how we might improve our services. If you would like to make suggestions as to how we can meet your needs better, or if during the course of the work you have any comments to make regarding the level of service you have received, please do not hesitate to contact Chris Ireland, Building Control Manager on 020 8547 4700 or e-mail chris.ireland@rbk.kingston.gov.uk. Your opinions really do matter to us.

Please note that if we are unable to resolve any concerns you may have the Council also operates a formal complaints procedure.