Phase 1 · Planning & Permissions · Task 14 of 17
What Building Control Inspects at Each Stage
Your BCO checks foundations, drainage, structure, and fire safety across 5-7 visits. Know what they look for so you can hold your builder accountable.
Your builder will cover things up. That's their job. Concrete goes over foundations, soil goes over drains, plasterboard goes over insulation and wiring. Once something is covered, nobody can see it without ripping the building apart. The building control officer is the only independent person who checks that what's underneath is right, before it disappears.
Most homeowners treat building control as a bureaucratic hurdle. Something the builder handles. Something that happens in the background. That's a mistake. The BCO's inspections are the single most important quality gate on your entire project, and understanding what they check at each stage puts you in a position to spot problems your builder would prefer you didn't notice.
Do this first
By now you've already submitted your building control application and received your inspection service plan listing the stages where the BCO wants to visit. If you haven't done that yet, start there.
What this guide covers
- 01The BCO Is Not Your Builder's Friend
- 02How Many Inspections to Expect
- 03Stage 1: Commencement
- 04Stage 2: Foundation Excavation
- 05Stage 3: Drainage
- 06Stage 4: Oversite and Damp Proofing
- 07Stage 5: Structure and Roof
- 08Stage 6: Pre-Plaster
- 09Stage 7: Completion
- 10Get Everything in Writing
- 11What the BCO Does Not Check
- 12The Inspection Service Plan
- 13The Deemed Commencement Rule
- 14LABC vs Private Building Control
- 15This Guide Is Your Overview
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