Major repairs to buildings often come under the control of Building Regulations so you need to fully understand these regulations. They concern the safety and structure of a building. If you are considering buying an older property which requires renovation, it is important that you are aware of the controls governing alterations.

You can view the regulations in local authority offices or in many libraries, although you will almost certainly need help with their interpretation. The Building Control officer at the council is the person to call.

Alternatively, try a chartered surveyor specialising in construction work or an architect.

The process is, thankfully, much speedier than applying for planning permission but note that there are two levels of building regulation. The building officer will tell you which you need.

1) Building notice