Unauthorised building works

It is an offence in terms of the Building (Scotland) Act to carry out Building Operations which require a Building Warrant without first receiving approval.

If a building works have been carried out without a Building Warrant being issued, you may wish the Council to inform you if they intend taking any enforcement action. This is likely to be important if you are selling your house.

The Council deal with unauthorised building work according to the date the work was carried out.

Building work carried out before June 1964

The Council is not concerned with work carried out before June 1964.

Minor Building work carried out between June 1964 and 1st May 2005.
You can apply for the unauthorised building works to be checked by the Building Standards section. Use this link to download the "Application for Property Inspection Service" form. 

You will either receive a letter confirming that the work is adequate
or
a letter listing building work which should be rectified.

Once the work has been rectified the council will check the work again and may issue a letter saying they do not intent taking any further enforcement action regarding the unauthorised works.

There is a charge for this service.

Building work carried out after 1st May 2005

The matter can be regularised by sending us a “Completion Certificate where no Building Warrant Obtained – Submission” form together with sufficient plans and specifications to enable the Council (acting as Verifier) to assess if your works comply with the Scottish Building Regulations.

The statutory fee for this service will be charged.

Building work where the life of an existing Building Warrant has expired

The Council will inspect works carried out in terms of an existing Building Warrant. Use this link to read the "Confirmation of Completion" section on the "Building Warrant" page.