Caroline

Not the case for us. Our site insurance expires on 14th, we wanted to move in on 10th, however, our building control officer is on annual leave until 13th. The site insurance which covers the new house won't let us extend the cover as they say they only cover if there is outstanding work to do (there isn't) and I worry that a normal home insurer will want a completion cert (which we don't have). What a way to end our journey ....

Hello everyone. Nearly at the end of the build and still living in the caravan (mobile home)! Everything is done, all renewables complete got MCS certs. Got As Built SAP and EPC. We have to building control, one for Buildzone (for the Warranty) and the other building control. I just emailed them both the EPC and the "other" building inspector had asked for photos of the loft insulation which I sent, however, I received an out of office reply that he is on leave until 13 April. I was hoping to move in on the 10th April. Ironically the Buildzone inspector has asked if the "other" inspector has done his final inspection (not sure why they can't make their own judgement, what's the point of having the Buildzone one if he wants to piggy back on the "other" inspector? What will happen if we move in on the 10th and they haven't issued the final BC cert? Although the build has taken just under 11 months, been living in the caravan for 19 and I am desperate to move in my lovely new home. I wouldn't need to tell them I officially moved in on the 10th, although some furniture will be in and beds made, no one could prove we aren't still in the caravan (I suppose). Look forward to hearing your thoughts. I am going to miss this forum, you have all provided so much guidance over the last year or so (even before build started with the usual preliminaries)

Good morning. We are coming to the end of our journey, and what a long journey (not in months) but there have been other obstacles along the way which has made it feel much longer! Our windows and doors were installed by a local company (Origin windows and doors). What do building control require for getting over the Approved Doc Q? Is it something from the door/window manufacturer or supplier/installer? Is there a standard form, or do I need to complete something too? Do hope someone has an answer, you all usually do and have been most helpful throughout. Caroline

Just found this on the Openreach website, we don't have the Gigabit connectivity and not planned for a year or more, what do I do?

Hello everyone I posted about Approved Document R Infrastructure for electronic communications Volume 1: Physical infrastructure and network connection for new dwellings There is a form to complete and building regs weren't satisfied with my first attempt! We are self builders (single storey house), living on site with superfast broadband supplied by Plus Net. We are semi rural so don't actually get very "super fast". I am trying to put together a diagram to be accepted by BRegs. I am not sure where my Network Distribution Point currently is. I went onto Openreach but they wanted a £60 payment for this information. Does anyone have any advise of how to find this (for free) please? Thank you in advance.

I am in the South East of England (Greater London area)

Thank you for your reply. Our pre SAP came out very good apparently 300% more than the 10% requested. Don't think the 1.2 windows rather than the 1.0 on pre SAP will be an issue but waiting for the company who carried out the report to get back to confirm. God knows why architect put 1.0 when 1.6 is allowed! Everything has a knock on effect and take so much time to rectify.

Hello everyone I have searched the planning portal and can't find what the requirements are for U values for newbuild windows and doors. Can anyone direct me or help please? Thank you. Caroline

Thanks everyone for all your thoughts. Been really helpful and will go down the 2 coat plaster route.

Hi We have new internal block walls. Was thinking of 2 coat plaster over them but some say dot and dab. Any advice appreciated. Thank you

Good afternoon everyone. We live onsite in mobile home and managing our self build. We have superfast wi fi as I work in my day job from home too. Building control asked for a connectivity plan Approved Doc R. I sent them our current super fast broadband bill and I completed the form to my best ability, however, they are not satisfied and say: “Thank you for this. Although the bill shows network capability is available within the site, it doesn't clarify a network provider has offered to provide a connection and which technology will be used to deliver this. I appreciate you advise a CAT6 cable will be installed, which will provide 'gigabit capable network', and you that have stated it would be full fibre wired connection however, a statement would be required from a relevant provider. In addition to the above, additional information would help me assess compliance, such as schematic diagrams, location of network termination points, access points and network distribution points. Please also ensure the form is fully complete, including section 5.” Section 5 relates to the build of more than one dwelling (we are only building one), any advice would be appreciated. Thank you in advance Caroline

Hello We are building a new single storey property with attached garage. The house is block and beam and so is the garage. The garage is having A142 mesh over B&B slurry then concrete poured for the garage floor. The rest of the house will have above the B&B slurrey, radon dpm, insulation, UFH and screed over. We can't seem to see that the engineer has requested a dpm to be laid below the mesh and the builder says if dpm is below the concrete being poured over the mesh it won't adhere. Any advice would be welcome. Thank you.

Hello I am also building a single storey house. Our building control drawings showed DPC to be Radon type. Building control officer visited this week and asked for a Radon report (planning didn't). We have spent so much on various reports including a contamination report (part of our planning conditions) but that didn't test for Radon. A previous report from a couple of years ago suggested Radon would be less than 3% but BC wasn't satisfied with this (probably because it was a couple of years old). I suggested to building control that we pay for the Radon type DPC which will probably end up being cheaper than getting another report/time etc. The reports needed to be produced nowadays cost a fortune, drives me mad. All the best

Thank you.

Hi all This is a requirement by planning. I have a pre-SAP that shows lots of data that means little to me, the one thing I do understand is the pre SAP suggests we will end up with an A EPC of 99, so excellent. However, I can't see from the very lengthy document what percentage of reduction of carbon emissions through renewable energy we will have. We are electric only, having 24 PV panels/ASHP and double glazing and UFH. Has anyone been able to find out this information from their pre SAP or do I need to spend more on an energy assessment report? Look forward to hearing from you. I am pulling my hair out trying to discharge all of these conditions. Thank you folks!