Check out channel 4

[enduro]

Check out channel 4 now, there is a program on called ''The building inspector is coming' its about dodgy builders.

[CJ CERAMICS]

watching and typing and playing poker online who says men cant multi task lol

[whitebeam]

Watching it

[Prem Tiler]

watching??

I'M ON IT!!

[CJ CERAMICS]

watching??

I'M ON IT!!

lol prem......your not though are you?

[Prem Tiler]

I wish, you cant buy that much publicity. just think you could put as seen on TV on all your adverts and business card!

[whitebeam]

watching??

I'M ON IT!!

Your not the guy who's ripped the whole internal part of the house out with the long hair

[WHID to?]

Saw it last night, sheesh they have their work cut out. Them and the council planning team must feel like they are trying to juggle jelly.

Where I live (Hounslow) the amount of dreadful work, dodgy back yard extensions and loft conversions that are going up is unbelievable. Why anyone would use really bright new (and cheap bricks) to extend a Victorian house is beyond me.

The guy across the street has just converted a 3 bedroom house into 4 flats and a bedsit. Permitted Dev for the loft and extension was done with planning permission. But he did not get permission to change it into flats as he knew he wouldn't get it if he asked. The place was just turned into a pig sty with the beautiful old established front and back garden being concreted over. No proper bins hot and cold running rodents.

I mentioned it to the council and he has now been refused retrospective permission to change it into flats. He wasn't paying council tax or declaring the income either.

Enforcement order to turn it back into a family house is coming out soon. Local people have to take a stand against this type of thing. If no one complains then nothing gets done.

If you see it in your area mention it and keep mentioning it until they do something. Contact your MP - at the moment they may be keen to be seen to do something!

Sorry for the rant but it REALLY annoys me (as you may have guessed!)

[GirlRacerRed]

totally agree WHID to?

[whitebeam]

The inspectors pointed out that anyone with a shovel and wheelbarrow can call themselves a builder, nothing new then

[Oli]

I tried to get into the building game but couldnt fit a decent sized wheel barrow into the boot of the motor

[Ajax123]

I got 3 shovels and 2 Wheel Barrows does that make me a main contractor?
Don't think I needed permission for my conservatory.....hope not anyway

[whitebeam]

Worth checking

[Colour Republic]

I think it is sickening when a building inspector starts whooping for joy when he finds a job without an application. I thought he was taking the mick at the beginning of the programme where he said he tried to join the police force but failed the entrance exam. By the end of the programme I think he was being serious. I mean did you see him in that interview

I completely agree that any rouge builders or unsafe building work should be regulated but not by guys like that, I'm happy to say that whilst I have had disagreements with a certain inspector in the past (the guy did not have a clue what he was on about) the overwhelming majority in my area are they to make the customer and builders life easier. They are there to serve the public and offer guidance, not to act as judge and jury.

The programme was very mis-leading in a few areas, but that might have been the way it was edited not what actually came out of the inspectors mouths.

[whitebeam]

That,s TV, what was misleading CR

[Oli]

I got 3 shovels and 2 Wheel Barrows does that make me a main contractor?
Don't think I needed permission for my conservatory.....hope not anyway

From Planning Permission for Conservatories

Under the present legislation you may not require planning permission providing you meet with the following conditions:

• No more than 50% of the land which surrounds the “original house” can be developed. If you require a conservatory that covers more than 50% planning permission is required.
• If the proposed conservatory faces any road, planning permission will be required.
• Maximum depth for a conservatory on a detached property is 4000 mm
• Maximum depth for a conservatory on a semi deched property is 3000 mm
• The maximum height of a conservatory is 4000 mm
• Conservatories built to the side elevation of a property a maximum of 4000 mts high and no more than 50% that of the original house
• At least 50% of area that will form the external boundary / edge of the conservatory must be glazed and 75% of the roof area to be covered with either glass or polycarbonate.(Building regulations)
• All conservatories must be separated from the house by an external quality door, patio door or French doors.(Building regulations)

Conservatories on listed building, national parks, Broads Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, conservation areas and World Heritage Sites planning permission will be required. * The term "original house" means the house as it was first built or as it stood on 1 July 1948 (if it was built before that date). Even if you may not have had an extension built to the house, a previous title-holder may have done so.
The above mentioned only applies to extensions after the 1 July 1948.
We have listed some additional information and conditions which attract planning permission:

1. If you build within 2m of the boundary line and the highest point at that junction is 4m or more high.
2. If your conservatory covers more than 50% of the original garden.
3. If your planning development rights have been removed.
4. Grade II listed buildings. These may require a hardwood conservatory with a glass roof.
5. Where a conservatory is 20m or less from a road or public footpath. (see sketch A)