Building Warrants

Preparing Plans

Clear and detailed plans showing the proposed building work should be prepared. In most cases an architect or design consultant should be appointed to prepare the plans and to supervise the work to ensure the standard of workmanship is satisfactory.

There are two option available to submit your application to the Council.

1. On-line service - you may register as a user of the Council's Portal and then complete the application form on-line and electronically submit your application. Full details of this on-line service are available here. Please note there is an upper limit on the estimated cost of applications (currently £35,000) that can be submitted on-line.
2. Paper based service - Three copies of the plan, the required fee and completed application form (download the form here) should be sent or handed in to the Council's Building Standards Section.

Building Standards, Waverley Court, Business Unit G3, 4 East Market Street, Edinburgh, EH8 8BG, Office hours: Monday to Thursday 8.30am - 5.00pm, Friday 8.30am - 3.40pm.

A Building Standards Surveyor will check that the work shown on your plans meets the Building Regulations.

You or your architect or designer will be notified of any changes that need to be made. Your plans will be checked again after the changes have been made.

A Building Warrant will be granted when your plans show that the work you want to do meets the Regulations.

Fees

A fee based on the estimated cost of the building work must be paid to the City of Edinburgh Council.

Check with Building Standards for detailed information about fees payable.

Fees should be paid by cheque or bankers order payable to 'City of Edinburgh Council' and enclosed with your completed application form.

Starting Work and Inspections

You must notify building standards on the forms provided:

• when your plans were approved
• when you want to start work
• when you are ready to cover any drains
• before commencing work if you intend to use a Certifier of Construction to obtain a small refund of part of your Building Warrant fee.

Building Standards Surveyors may inspect the work while building is in progress. You will be told if there are any problems with the work being done and you or your builder will be expected to put them right.

When you receive your Building Warrant you will be sent the following documents:

A Building Warrant document and a copy of the approved plans and forms to send to Building Standards (see address above) when:

• you want to start work
• you want to cover drains
• a form to submit when the work is finished
• a form to submit if you intend to use a Certifier of Construction (post May 2005)
• a form to submit if your proposals include the erection of protective works

Drains

New drains below the ground must be inspected and tested by Building Standards before they are covered.

Let Building Standards know on the form sent to you with the approved plans when your drains are ready to be covered and they will arrange for them to be inspected and tested.

Your drains should not be covered until they pass the inspection and test.

Completion Certificates

When the work is finished you should complete the appropriate form which was sent to you along with the Building Warrant document and the approved plans and return it to Building Standards.

Building Standards will arrange for an inspection to be made within 14 days of receiving the form and you will be notified if anything needs to be changed. Once any changes to the work have been made, a Building Standards Surveyor will inspect the work again.

If the works are satisfactory you will be sent either a Notice of Acceptance of Completion Certificate for an applications made on or after 1st May 2005 or a Certificate of Completion for an application made before 1st May 2005 which indicates the Council's position in relation to your works.

The building or part of the building which has been erected, extended or altered must not be used unless the above has been followed.

The Building Warrant document, copies of the approved plans and either the Notice of Acceptance of Completion Certificate or the Certificate of Completion (as detailed above) should be kept in a safe place with the Title Deeds to your property.

Duration of a Building Warrant

A Building Warrant lasts for three (3) years after it has been granted.

If you need more time to complete the work you must apply by letter for an extension of the Building Warrant, to Building Standards, Waverley Court, Business Unit G3, 4 East Market Street, Edinburgh, EH8 8BG, before the warrant has expired, enclosing a cheque or bankers order, £50 for applications made on or after 1st May 2005, or £30 for applications made up to 30th April 2005, made out to the 'City of Edinburgh Council'.

Confirmation of Completion

If your warrant has expired or if an extension to your warrant has been refused you may want the Council to tell you if the work is completed satisfactorily.

This is likely to be important if you are selling your house.

Use this link to download the "Confirmation of Completion" form. There is a charge for this service.

A Building Standards Surveyor will contact you to arrange an inspection of the work within fourteen (14) days. Once the work has been inspected you will be notified if any work needs to be changed.

Once any changes to the work has been made a Building Standards Surveyor will inspect the work again, and if the works are satisfactory you will be sent a letter confirming that the Council is satisfied with the work.