Refurbishment drawings in London

Your borough runs its own building control

Building control in London is run borough by borough: you apply to the council for the area the property is in. The City of London, for example, publishes its own application route and its own charges.

Many London flats sit in taller blocks. If the building is at least 7 storeys or 18 metres high, work there goes to the Building Safety Regulator, not the borough.

Sources: City of London, Building Control, read 10 Oct 2026; GOV.UK, linked below.

Rules that apply across England

• You can use the local authority's building control service or a private registered building control approver.
• Higher-risk buildings, defined as at least 7 storeys or 18 metres high with residential units, need approval from the Building Safety Regulator before work starts.
• You do not need to apply yourself for work done by someone registered with a competent person scheme, such as many electricians and heating engineers.
• Without approval you may not have the compliance certificates you need when you sell.

Source: GOV.UK, Building regulations approval, read 10 Oct 2026.