Property Library
Building Control History Information
Click on Property Search & Tracking for our online search which provides free, 24 hour access to building control application information held across Canterbury, Gravesham, Medway and Swale authorities.
We cannot guarantee that it is accurate or up to date and we do not accept legal responsibility for it. Before acting on such information, you must make your own appropriate and careful enquiries including as to its accuracy and suitability for your purposes. You rely on such information at your own risk.
Need a copy of documentation or search carried out
Building Control records are not public records which means there is no public right to view or obtain information submitted under the Building Regulations. However, the owner of a property or a solicitor acting in the sale of the property can request to view plans or obtain a copy of completion certificates and decision notices as per guidance below.
The partnership only holds records back to 1st January 1998. For our team to carry out a search (from 1998 to present day), provide copies of documentation (where available) and/or answer questions would be a chargeable service. The search charge of £81.60 including VAT covers the cost of the search but does not guarantee we will be able to provide the information requested.
If you require a search of our old registers where we may or may not be able to establish the relevant application number relating to a development a search charge of £15.00 is payable to cover the cost of the search but does not guarantee we will be able to provide the required information.
Click on APPLY ONLINE and complete the online application form or email us at building@stgbc.org.uk providing full details of the search request and contactable telephone number to take payment. Or if you wish to pay by card please telephone 01634 331133 quoting your acknowledgment ID and a member of administration will be able to take the payment. Please note: until full request details and payment have been received no search will be carried out.
From July 2002, the Law Society as part of Solicitors "Searches" are required to ask questions to confirm that all necessary Building Control consents have been obtained for building works before a property can be sold or re-mortgaged. Failure to ensure that controlled building work does comply with the Building Regulations may lead to difficulties, delays and possible additional costs in any future sale of the property.
Note:
For initial notice applications where the building control function has been carried out by an Approved Inspector rather than ourselves, the only documentation we may be able to provide is a copy of the Final Certificate. It is not guaranteed that we will be able to provide a copy of the Certificate.
For works carried out by members of a Competent Person Scheme, we would not be able to provide any documentation as we only receive an e-notification from the Scheme.
Building work from 1974 to 31 December 1997
The partnership no longer holds the information relating to building control work carried out on properties before 1 January 1998. Where plans were available this information is now being held by the respective authorities archivist who can be contacted at:
For Gravesham and Swale Council areas: archives@kent.gov.uk
For Medway Council area: archives@medway.gov.uk
Works carried out in the Gillingham area prior to Medway Council forming as a Unitary Authority, no index is available as works were carried out under the property name. These records are now with the Medway archivist.
For Canterbury Council please note that their retention policy is 12 years.
Please note that completion certificates were not routinely issued for building regulation applications submitted before 2002.
Building work from 1 January 1998 to 31 December 2006
Limited information is now held by the partnership relating to work within this period. Please note our standard search fee is payable for any enquiry made for information held.
PRC Certificates
We have recently received several requests for copies of PRC Certificates. A lot of these works were carried out in the 1980s. Please be advised that we have extremely limited records relating to PRC Certificates. As stated above, we only hold records dating back to 1998 and as such may or may not be able to provide you with a reference number only. The pre-1998 search fee will apply if you require STG to carry out the search, however, you may search the records free of charge via the Property Search and Tracking area of our website.