Request a Building Control site visit

There are a number of ways that you can request a site visit.

About site visits

Site visits are generally carried out Monday to Friday between 10.30am and 3.30pm; however, arrangements can be made for inspections outside of these times. Please contact the Building Control Surveyor directly. Please note that no visits will be carried out at weekends. 

If you have any questions or comments please contact the Building Control Team.

Read information about how site visits operate. 

Online form

Please note that a reference number will be required for this option.

Request a site visit

Local Authority Building Control (LABC) app

Download the free LABC app to apply from your mobile device.

• Download LABC app for iOS
• Download LABC app for Android

Inspection Framework - Owner/Occupier/Builder

The following inspection stages are those for which the Regulations require that the builder or owner give formal “notice” before covering the work in question. Inspections will need to be made as appropriate to the job in question. In most instances 1 days notice is required, occupation and completion inspections require 5 days notice.

As a general rule however, provided a request is made for any inspection before 10.00am on work days, an inspection will normally be made the same day. A request at any other time will normally involve an inspection the following working day.

“Notice” referred to above can be by telephone directly to the Building Control Surveyor supervising your project, or Building Control Admin support Team on 020 8891 7117, or fax on 020 8891 7347, or email to: buildingcontrol@richmond.gov.uk.

Statutory inspections

Type of Works	Description	Notice	Notes
Commencement of works	That you intend to commence works	2 days	This might include site of existing foundation examination
Foundation excavations	Before anything is placed in the excavations	1 day	More than one visit may be necessary
Covering of foundations	Before the foundation concrete is covered	1 day	May be done with either of the next two inspections
Hardcore Oversite	Before any hardcore or concrete laid over the site is covered	1 day	May include mesh reinforcement, thermal insulation provision and damp proof membrane
Damp Proof Courses	Before any damp proof course or membrane is covered, including tanking	1 day	May be combined with above inspection, but may include dpc's in other locations
Drains	Before covering up any drain or sewer	1 day	Includes all access, cleaning and rodding points
Backfilling drain excavations	Before backfilling any drain or sewer which has been haunched or covered	5 days	At this stage it may be prudent to include a test on the underground drains
Occupation	Before a building or any part of it is occupied	5 days	Occupying a building before substantial completion may give rise to health and safety risks.  A plumbing test may be included
Completion	After completion of the works	5 days	No Completion Certificate will be issued without a final inspection and notice of completion
Important: Part P Electrical Safety	Installation	1 day	All electrical work required to meet the Requirements of Part P (Electrical Safety) must be designed, installed, inspected and tested by a person competent to do so.
	Completion	5 days	Prior to completion the Council should be satisfied that Part P has been complied with.  This may require an appropriate BS7671 electrical installation certificate to be issued for the work by a person competent to do so.

In addition to the "statutory inspections" referred to above, as appropriate to the project and with specific reference to this particular project the following items should be inspected also:

Additional Inspections

• IL03 - Steel/Timber beams
• IL01 - Thermal insulation

You are therefore advised to ensure that notice is given so that these items are particularly inspected.  It must be understood that this list is not comprehensive, but highlights items of particular and specific interest to a project.