Which building inspector

[dnoble]

I had a surveyor come round yesterday to look at the plot for the self build mortgage folk.

He asked who the building inspector would be and mentioned I could use the council one or employ a private company (which he implied might be more flexible/pragmatic etc)

I hadn't realised this was a possibility. 

Are there benefits of one over the other. Is there usually a significant cost difference here?

[PeterW]

It’s called the Approved Inspector scheme and you can get a lot of decent ones, and some are not so good ... just ask @curlewhouse..!

 

You mention mortgage - do you need a warranty too ..?? If so, a lot of the warranty companies do a combined service for warranty and building control inspections. It’s what I have and the provider of the inspections (Meridian) have been brilliant 

 

 

[curlewhouse]

I have to say that (I now know) the L.A ones here have a good name amongst builders, and the private one I've used has a good name in some areas but my own experience has not been that way, so I would definitely  ask locally as it seems to entirely depend on the personality of the BCO him/her self rather than who they work for. All will (should!) keep to the rules of course, but there seems to be a huge difference in how they apply those rules.  Talk to local builders and tradesmen and you'll soon find out which is best in your area. 

Edited November 17, 2017 by curlewhouse

[dnoble]

Thanks Curlewhouse, that sounds like good advice.

Presumably if I went with the Council/LA one I wouldn't get to choose who was allocated?