Completion - everything done but building inspector on holiday!

[Caroline]

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)

[Conor]

You can move in whenever you want, just check with your insurance company. Our self build policy allowed to live in the house, and only lapsed once we got approval, then immediately got normal house insurance.

[Russell griffiths]

As above, check your insurance and move in. 
you must be 100% happy it is safe though, so all fire escape windows and routes out the building complete, smoke detectors in place and electrical sign off, after that it’s up to you. 

[G and J]

Well this got me thinking, as one with aspirations of moving in before completion....so in case it's helpful fir others and with the caveat of "check with your own insurers" our insurers have confirmed our site insurance is valid until we have a completion certificate regardless of whether we move in or not....phew!

[Caroline]

1 hour ago, G and J said:

Well this got me thinking, as one with aspirations of moving in before completion....so in case it's helpful fir others and with the caveat of "check with your own insurers" our insurers have confirmed our site insurance is valid until we have a completion certificate regardless of whether we move in or not....phew!

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 ....

[Buzz]

37 minutes ago, Caroline said:

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 ....

From memory we lived in ours for 18 months without a completion certificate on normal household insurance, just filled in one of the comment boxes online to say new  build awaiting completion certificate, just took my money and sent the insurance documents never have asked for the certificate .

 

[Russell griffiths]

Get on the phone now and sort some insurance. 
we were in exactly the same position, site insurance ran out in about a fortnight, we could extend but it was £1200 a year, go to a broker and talk through what you have built, don’t do it online. 
 

[BotusBuild]

We did the same as the last two posters. Standard buildings and contents insurance, no completion cert yet