Approved inspector for building control

[Madcatwoman68]

Our loft conversion has turned into a nightmare.
Building control visited and signed off the structure. We employed an independent structural engineer who is disagreeing

The buildingcontrol did not finish the plan check before the site inspection

Anyone have any experience of this and where to go from here?
Any building solicitors around too?

Why did you employ an independent structural engineer after building control said it was OK? That might help us understand what is happening here.

I had no idea that the work was sub standard. By chance another builder who we are employing for other works was invited in to take a look as he was interested in the project.
As soon as he got inside he expressed concern about a number of safety issues and recommended that we got a structural engineer involved.
I am awaiting his report but his verbal feedback was not good on several matters.
I raised my concerns with the building control inspector who did the first visit and said it was compliant.
At his recent visit he has now said it is non compliant. He has changed his mind as he knows I now know it is unsafe.
I am appalled that a building control inspector would come out before the plans are checked and sign off work
Thank goodness I let the other builder in or we would never have known

Did you use an independent building inspector or a Council building inspector? Both should be chartered such as RICS so you could complain to them. If It is the local authority they will have a complaints procedure so you could use that. It also depends what type of application you applied for as well as a building notice and full plans are different. However, your builder should be competent too so the blame shouldn’t lie with just the building control Officer.

It is an approved inspector ftom a private company. Our loft conversion builders use them as part of the package so we weren't given a choice.
I think they are in cahoots with each other
Our builders sadly are turning out to be cowboys

I think you really need speak to citizens advice bureau re your builder as you may have to get a solicitor involved but see if you can get free advice first. Re the building control aspect Private building inspectors often provide a very poor service sadly. Do check if they are linked to a professional body like RICS, as I said before, as they need to meet the standards that RICS set out so you could complain to them. Ultimately, if they both are not willing to address the mess they have made you sadly will need legal advice.

Thank you for your help x

Ok, this looks like it will turn nasty.

I’d suggest that you get an inspection from your local council, Building Control should come out within a day or so. (I found them lovely, quick and really helpful.)

The head of dept at our local council signed off on something which I told him was invalid because the particular body involved could only sign off their own work and not someone else's. His response was 'it's fine, I've got my piece of paper to say it's all fine". I insisted it was reinspected, it caused merry hell with the agents. I despair.

We ended up not purchasing a bungalow as the work was inspected not by the Council but my a private building inspector. When we had a full structural survey (not for mortgage purposes) the RICS surveyor pointed out that the floors of the loft extension were sloped and as the work was only 8 years old it was a concern. Further inspection was required, including lifting the floor. He estimated possible restorative work to be from £20k up. We withdrew our offer.

@Madcatwoman68
"I think they are in cahoots with each other"

Sadly they often are. When we had our extension built we specified the use of the local authority BC inspector. Two of the original field of potential builders said not to worry and they included building control fees in their quote as they "use their own". I declined and then they said they won't work with the LA BC inspector as they are too difficult to work with.

I decided I wanted a building I wanted a difficult building inspector! The builder I chose said he never works with independent inspectors for that reason. He said he has never had a problem with the LA inspectors but that's because he builds properly!! Says it all really