Builder ordered to compensate Arun district homeowners after ten safety breaches
A builder has been fined £19,600 for ten breaches of building safety regulations, following renovation work, in the Arun district.
Arun District Council brought the prosecution after repeated failures to comply with building safety requirements. The council said it had recovered its prosecution costs. Its statement did not identify the builder or detail the individual breaches, amid a hearing at Brighton Magistrates’ Court.
The builder was ordered to pay £1,600 in compensation to the homeowners and a £2,000 victim surcharge. At a sentencing hearing, the court advised the homeowners to keep the outstanding balance on their renovation contract.
Sue Wallsgrove, deputy chair of the council’s environment committee, said: “Building regulations exist to keep people safe and to ensure that work carried out on homes meets the standards residents have a right to expect.
“When those standards are not met, it can have a significant impact on householders. This case demonstrates that we will take appropriate action where necessary to protect residents and uphold building safety requirements.
“We hope it also reassures residents that concerns about building safety will be taken seriously and investigated thoroughly.”
In its guidance for homeowners, the council says extensions and alterations are likely to need building regulations approval. This is separate from planning permission. Jobs such as replacing windows or installing a bathroom that involves plumbing can also require approval.
The council’s building control team inspects work it oversees at key stages, depending on the project. These can include checking foundations before concrete is poured or inspecting drains before they are covered. The council recommends arranging a completion inspection before the builder leaves the site and before making the final payment.