How to Get a Building Control Completion Certificate

A completion certificate is issued by the building control body — either the local authority building control (LABC) or an approved inspector — after a final inspection confirming the work complies with building regulations.

For Full Plans applications, the completion certificate is the final document in a series of stage inspections. For Building Notice applications, no drawings are approved upfront, but a completion certificate is still required at the end.

The completion certificate is distinct from a planning compliance letter, which is issued by the planning department and confirms planning conditions have been discharged. They cover different legal frameworks and major projects may require both.

Notify your building control body when all work is complete — including second-fix (wiring, plumbing, plastering all done). Do not request the final inspection while work is still ongoing; the inspector will not issue the certificate if anything is incomplete.

Contact your building control officer by phone or email to book the final inspection. Allow 5–10 working days to get a booking, particularly with local authority building control which can be busy.

Have test certificates ready before the inspection: electrical installation condition report (Part P), air pressure test results if required (Part L), and any commissioning certificates for heating systems.

The inspector will check all Approved Document requirements relevant to the scope of your project:

• Part A – Structure: structural stability, lintels, beams, load paths
• Part B – Fire Safety: escape routes, fire doors, smoke alarms, fire stopping
• Part F – Ventilation: trickle vents, extract fans, whole-house ventilation if applicable
• Part L – Energy efficiency: insulation levels, thermal bridging, air tightness, SAP/EPC compliance
• Part P – Electrical safety: installation certificate or competent person certificate
• Part K – Stairs and guarding: stair pitch, balustrade height and spacing
• Part M – Access: accessible threshold levels and WC provision where applicable

The inspector may ask to see test certificates or commissioning records. Prepare these in advance.

If the inspector identifies issues, they will note them and may issue a completion notice with conditions or decline to issue the certificate until matters are resolved.

Most issues flagged at final inspection are minor and easy to resolve: a missing trickle vent, a handrail at the wrong height, missing fire stopping around a pipe penetration. Fix the issues and request a reinspection — this is usually a short visit rather than a full inspection.

Inspectors want to issue the certificate. Work with them cooperatively. If you disagree with a requirement, discuss it calmly and ask for the specific Approved Document reference — this sometimes resolves misunderstandings.

When you sell your home, your solicitor will be asked to provide evidence of building regulations compliance for any work carried out during your ownership. Buyers’ solicitors and mortgage lenders will ask specifically for the completion certificate.

A missing completion certificate triggers a query in the buyer’s survey, which can cause delays, price renegotiation, or in some cases cause buyers to withdraw. It can sometimes be resolved with indemnity insurance, but that flags the work as potentially non-compliant and is not a clean resolution.

Obtaining the completion certificate at the time of the build is straightforward. Obtaining a regularisation certificate retrospectively — which may require opening up walls or floors to show concealed work — is significantly more disruptive and expensive.