Going to be nvq2 but still not allowed to DIY at home?

[Southamptonchris]

I was hoping for some clarification, I've just moved into our first home, and there a lot I want to do with it. One job is to install a wet room/small corner shower. I am currently employed as a general maintenance guy, and so a lot of plumbing at work. I'm confident I can do all the work needed, but currently I don't hold any qualifications. My employer is going to put me through nvq2 city and guilds soonish. The thing I can't get my head around is that in say 5 years when I want to sell the house and I've installed a new bathroom regardless if I'm nvq2 trained or not the bathroom is still not considered to be installed correctly. It's my understanding that I have to get building regs in to approve all the work. If not I'll have difficulty selling the house is this correct? I know about self certificate but I'm not going to pay huge amounts of money to sign of DIY. My employer would have no benefit for me to have it either. Hope thats clear, thanjs for the advice!

 

[Phil]

I thought you were going to say your girlfriend wouldn't allow you to touch anything ha ha ha.

 

[Chuck]

I'm confident I can do all the work needed, but currently I don't hold any qualifications.

How confident you are in your own ability only matters if you are buying the property. When you are selling it what matters is what the buyer thinks.

The thing I can't get my head around is that in say 5 years when I want to sell the house and I've installed a new bathroom regardless if I'm nvq2 trained or not the bathroom is still not considered to be installed correctly.

What matters are your skills, qualifications and registrations at the time the work is done, not what they may become at a later date.

I'll have difficulty selling the house is this correct? I know about self certificate but I'm not going to pay huge amounts of money to sign of DIY.

You can always sell a house to someone, but the price the purchaser is willing to pay will be reduced. The way things work is that they buyer waits until you think you have a deal and then discovers you don't have the right certificates and drops the price by the cost of ripping out your efforts completely and having the most expensive bathroom fitters in town redo it all from scratch.

If the place is dodgy enough you will only be able to sell to property developers or people who don't need a mortgage. These guys will know you've got little choice and will drive a hard bargain.

So, my advice is to talk to your local building control office and see what they want from you. If you are polite they are often very helpful to DIYer's who want to do the right thing.

It may make more sense to put the wet-room on hold until you are qualified. IMO, it's a good idea to live in a place for a bit before making major changes.

 

[Southamptonchris]

Thanks chuck, I'm confident I'm my abilities I've been in constuction/maintenance for many years and have friends that could help out if it goes wrong. It would just be nice to be able to sell the place on in the future without having to negotiate on the price because of the bathroom. We want to add value to the house but if every little job we do needs to be inspected it will cost a fortune! I suppose that's the real world. Any idea how much a small project like installing a shower tray will cost to get a building inspector out for?
Thanks for you advice.

 

[jtsplumbing]

Why not just ring local Building Control, and ask what you can alter and replace without any need to get them involved ,

 

[Chuck]

We want to add value to the house but if every little job we do needs to be inspected it will cost a fortune! I suppose that's the real world. Any idea how much a small project like installing a shower tray will cost to get a building inspector out for?

IIRC there are normally two charges 'a plan charge' and an 'inspection charge'. Check your local council's BC website. My guess is about £250 for what's known as 'formation of a new bathroom'. If you have several jobs together there is usually some sort of discount.

 

[Southamptonchris]

Why not just ring local Building Control, and ask what you can alter and replace without any need to get them involved ,

In read on the building portal that swapping like for like is ok, but moving a waste pipe will need inspection, but it's hard to find any information in how much it will cost to inspect .Yes your right I'll have to call ,every time I want to do something

 

[plumbandplumber]

Not sure you need to worry too much. It's only really gas, electrics and drainage that needs the right ticket and/or notifying to BC. The main work of a bathroom (tiling, pipework, fitting suite, etc, etc) can be done by anyone.

The only thing that may cause problems when selling is if the work looks sub standard.

 

[SimonG]

Need a sense of humour. First thing I thought of was the same as Phil.

 

[king of pipes]

If your confident you can do it then do it bud you dont need to get building control involved , your not doing structural work and there must be some form of drainage there already. Cheers kop