Don't forget: Keep the council informed during your home extension or renovation

Once your planning approval and building warrant are granted, many homeowners (and even some builders) forget that their responsibilities don’t end there.

Here are some key steps to keep your home extension or renovation project compliant — and to avoid headaches when applying for your completion certificate:

• Notify the council when you start on site. It’s a legal requirement in Scotland to let Planning and Building Standards know when the project begins — your builder or designer can usually do this for you.

• Notify Building Standards at inspection stages. Your building warrant approval will list the stages when the council wants to inspect. Make sure your builder gives them proper notice at each stage — don’t just assume they’ll show up.

• Take plenty of photos. Sometimes, inspectors won’t visit during construction and will accept photographic evidence when you apply for the completion certificate — but only if the photos clearly show the required details.

• Collect all necessary certificates. Ensure your builder provides you with the required documents — like electrical, gas, or drainage certificates — as these are essential for the council to issue your completion certificate.

  
  

Keeping the council informed, documenting the work, and gathering the right paperwork saves you time, stress, and potential costs at the end of your project.

If you’d like advice on managing this process properly, feel free to reach out — we’re happy to help!