Submitting a Completion Certificate
Where can I apply for a completion certificate?
Once the works have been completed as per the approved building warrant drawings; you can submit a completion certificate submission via the online eBuilding Standards portal.
Important Notes
If you sell your property, the buyer's solicitor will expect to see a Notice of Acceptance of Completion Certificate for any alterations that the surveyor highlights in his report. You run the risk of losing a sale should this result in delays.
It is also an offence under the Building (Scotland) Act 1959 or 2003 to occupy a building without a notice of acceptance of certificate of completion or authorisation of temporary occupation/use, with the possibility of an accumulating daily fine.
Expired Warrants
Note that if the building warrant has expired (normally after three years from the issue date), you will need to extend the warrant duration as described on the ‘Applying for a Building Warrant’ page before submitting your certificate of completion.
Who can submit a completion certificate submission?
The 'Relevant Person' (owner, tenant or developer) must, when the works are completed, fill out and submit the completion certificate. An authorised agent may also complete this, but must not enter themselves as the relevant person. This certificate must be accompanied by any certificates from approved certifiers of construction or any documents required relative to electrical works where an approved certifier has not been used. Other test certificates or reports may be requested, dependant on the type of building. For example, if an approved certifier of design has been used a Form Q certifying the structural engineer's design must be submitted along with the completion certificate submission.
Can I still use paper forms?
If you don't have access to a computer you can still fill out and submit paper application forms. These can be collected from the Municipal Buildings, Clyde Square, Greenock. To ensure a member of the team is on hand to give you a form before travelling in, please call in advance on 01475 71 71 71.
Alternatively these can be downloaded and printed or filled out electronically from the Scottish Government website.
Despite paper applications being available, we strongly recommend submitting your forms via the eBuilding Standards portal if you are able to and if your application was initially submitted via the portal.
Response Time & Completion Inspection Points
Once we receive a completion certificate, the Officer will respond within 14 days. An inspection of the completed works will usually be required. A notice of acceptance of completion certificate will either then be issued, or you will be notified of any non-compliances that need rectified prior to acceptance. In certain circumstances it may be acceptable to issue an authority for temporary occupation or use, pending finalisation of minor non-safety critical works.
Electrical Certificates
If you have undertaken any electrical works as part of your approved building warrant, you will be required to submit an electrical installations certificate from a competent installer.
A competent installer is an installer having current membership of an accredited registration scheme operated by a recognised professional body. This could include a UKAS accredited registration scheme operated by NICEIC or SELECT or an equivalent body. For applications involving the installation of microgeneration equipment only this could include installers registered with the microgeneration certification scheme operated by The Department of Energy and Climate Change.
Approved Certifiers of Construction
The Act establishes a role for suitably qualified people, businesses, or other bodies to be appointed by the Scottish Ministers to certify that certain construction work complies with the building regulations. A certificate of construction covers both the electrical installation and compliance with the building regulations where these could be affected by the electrical installation (e.g. notching of floor joists, fire sealing and acoustic separation). There are currently two schemes approved by the SBSA, operated by SELECT and NICEIC (but note that not all members of these organisations are approved certifiers as defined here). A discount of 1% of the warrant fee is available were the verifier is formally notified, on the warrant application form, that an approved certifier of construction is to be employed.