What are Part M Building Regulations?
Part M Regulations ensure that buildings are accessible, not only to disabled people, those with limited mobility and wheelchair users, but also to people who regularly use prams and other wheeled devices.
When did Part M building regs come in?
Part M in Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations has been amended. The 2015 edition with 2016 amendments took effect on 1 March 2016 for use in England.
Is Approved document M mandatory?
A series of Approved Documents set out what typically would be acceptable for compliance with the relevant requirements of Building Regulations. There is no legal obligation to follow the guidance in the Approved Documents.
What is a Part M threshold?
To meet the requirements of Part M, door thresholds should be a maximum of 15mm; the threshold should be chamfered or rounded for ease of wheelchair access. To find out more, download our eBook ‘Specifying doors to meet Approved Document M of the Building Regulations’.
How far back can Building Regs be enforced?
How long is the application valid for? A Building Regulation application is valid for three years from the date of deposit. If you have started the works within the three years, there is no time limit to finish, however, the onus is on the owner to ensure regular visits to check progress are being requested.
Do old buildings need to comply with building regulations?
The building regulations only apply to new work and there is no general requirement to upgrade all existing buildings to meet these standards.
Do I need a threshold drain?
Ideally, the paving should always fall away from the property, as per normal, as it is never a good idea to rely on a threshold drain as the ‘main’ drainage for an area of paving. However, there are the inevitable instances where use of a threshold drain as the only drainage outlet on a paved area is unavoidable.
Does M4 2 require a lift?
M4(2) – Accessible and adaptable dwellings All flats are to be provided with a lift. (It may be agreed by planners that all Category M4(2) and (3) dwellings can be located on the ground floor of a block of flats to eradicate the installation of a lift).
Is there a 10 year rule for building regs?
A Certificate of Lawfulness generally applies to the continuous use of a building over 10 years – hence it also (confusingly) being known as the 10 Year Rule. You can get a certificate if you can demonstrate that: There has been a continuous use of land or buildings (other than a dwelling) for more than 10 years.
Can I sell my house without building regulations?
While it’s almost impossible to sell a house without building regulations, you could sell an undervalued property to a cash buyer because they won’t be needing to meet the mortgage lender’s criteria.