PROPERTY CERTIFICATES

Property Certificates are administered by the Council's Building Control service.

The Building Regulations specify minimum standards covering health, safety and welfare for all buildings (private, commercial and public). The Property Certificate service enables a prospective purchaser (or their solicitor) to find out if any work carried out on the property has been approved and meets the statutory requirements. Part of the service involves a check being undertaken to identify any outstanding breaches of the statutory requirements, and if the Council has taken or intends to take any legal action.

Submitting an Application
Property certificates are usually requested by a solicitor on the purchaser's behalf. However, the purchaser may also request this service by submitting a completed application form to Building Control along with the appropriate fee and two copies of a site location map.

The Property Certificate will include the following information in relation to the property over the past ten years:

• Any Building Regulation applications that have been received
• Any known breach of Building Regulations
• Any legal proceedings in relation to Building Regulations
• Any relaxations of the Regulations that have been granted
• Confirmation of the property's correct address
• Environmental Health issues (eg: a smoke control order)

Please note that separate property certificates must be sought for each individual building or plot of land, and that information is provided from held records (ie no site inspection will be carried out).

For further information contact Karen Conway, Administration Officer, Building Control, Tel: 028 9182 4031, E: karen.conway@ards-council.gov.uk

Online Property Certificates

Useful Links

Building Control Northern Ireland: www.buildingcontrol-ni.com

DOE Planning Service: Tel: 028 4461 8000. www.doeni.gov.uk

Lands and Property Services: www.lpsni.gov.uk