Frequently Asked Questions

The power to do this is at the discretion of the Council and the current policy at OWBC is not to offer such a discount. This decision was taken as it was felt that to allow a discount would disadvantage those who did not have the means to pay in full rather than by instalments, and the cost of the discount would have to be met by all Council Tax payers as it would not be covered by the increase in cash flow.

No, you cannot get interest on overpaid Council Tax. There is no provision in law to allow it so it would be illegal for the council to pay it.

No, if you stop paying, we are obliged to commence recovery action against you. Your liability to pay Council Tax is not affected by provision of local authority services.

You should contact the local authority responsible for providing the service and say why you are unhappy. You can pursue the matter through the Council’s complaints procedure if necessary, and ultimately involve your local Councillor and/or the Ombudsman as appropriate.

Possibly, but you must provide the Council with all of the reasons why your entitlement should start from a date earlier than the date you submitted your benefit application form. The Council will only be able to agree to backdate your claim if you can demonstrate good cause why you did not apply earlier and that this existed for the whole of the period that you are seeking backdated benefit to be paid. Reasons such as 'I did not know about the scheme' or 'I did not have time to apply' are not normally considered to demonstrate good cause. Backdated benefit entitlement cannot exceed a period of 6 months for a claimant or partner who are under 60 and cannot exceed a period of 3 months for a claimant or partner who are 60 or over from the date of the claim.

Yes, unless the work is carried out, inspected and tested by a company registered on one of the following competent persons schemes:-

In dwellings

(i) Full competence schemes covering any electrical installation work in a dwelling, including lighting systems

• BESCA (Building Engineering Services Competence Accreditation Limited),
• BSI (British Standards Institution),
• CORGI (Benchmark Certification Limited),
• ELECSA (ECA Certification Limited),
• NAPIT (NAPIT Registration Limited) or
• NICEIC (Ascertiva Group Limited).

(ii) Defined competence schemes

These schemes are designed primarily for those who do electrical installation work as an adjunct to or in connection with their primary work activities - for example, in connection with gas installations kitchen or bathroom fitting, or fire alarm or security system installations.

• APHC,
• BESCA (Building Engineering Services Competence Accreditation Limited),
• CORGI (Benchmark Certification Limited),
• ELECSA (ECA Certification Limited),
• NAPIT (NAPIT Registration Limited),
• NICEIC (Ascertiva Group Limited) or
• OFTEC (Oil Firing Technical Association Limited).

In buildings other than dwellings

(i) Lighting systems

• BESCA (Building Engineering Services Competence Accreditation Limited),
• ELECSA (ECA Certification Limited),
• NAPIT (NAPIT Registration Limited),
• NICEIC (Ascertiva Group Limited) or
• STROMA (Stroma Certification Limited).

For a garage to be considered exempt under Regulation 9 (Exempt Buildings & Work) of the Building Regulations 2010, the proposal must be detached from the dwelling house and contains no sleeping accommodation, the internal floor area must not exceed 30 square metres and the building must either be at least 1 metre from the boundary of its curtilage or constructed substantially of non-combustible material.

Though the construction of the garage may be exempt from the provisions of the Building Regulations 2010, the electrical installation associated with this is not. To establish that the electrical installation is in accordance with the requirements, it is suggested that the services of a qualified electrical contractor be employed who is registered on a self certification scheme for Part P of the regulations (Electrical Safety) and is able to provide you with an electrical certificate which confirms the design installation and testing of the system is in accordance with BS 7671.

For a carport to be considered to be exempt under Regulation 9 (Exempt Buildings & Work) of the Building Regulations 2010, the proposal must be open on at least two sides and the internal floor area does not exceed 30 square metres.

Though the construction of the carport may be exempt from the provisions of the Building Regulations 2010, the electrical installation associated with this is not. To establish that the electrical installation is in accordance with the requirements, it is suggested that the services of a qualified electrical contractor be employed who is registered on a self certification scheme for Part P of the regulations (Electrical Safety) and is able to provide you with an electrical certificate which confirms the design installation and testing of the system is in accordance with British Standard 7671.

For a conservatory to be considered to be exempt under Regulation 9 (Exempt Buildings & Work) of the Building Regulations 2010, the proposal must only be single storey, constructed at ground level and the internal floor area must not exceed 30 square metres. In addition glazing in critical locations must be toughened or laminated safety glass in accordance with British Standard 6206.

When the conservatory is attached to an existing dwelling provision must be made to limit the loss of heat from the dwelling. Ways of meeting the requirement would be:

a) to retain the existing separation where the opening is not to be enlarged; or

b) to provide separation by new windows and/or doors having a Window Energy Rating (WER) of Band C or better or a U-value of at least 1.6W/m²k (Watts per metre square kelvin).

Where an opening into the proposal is to be opening is enlarged or newly created as a material alteration an application will be required for the structural alteration only.

Though the construction of the conservatory may be exempt from the provisions of the Building Regulations 2010, the electrical installation associated with this is not. To establish that the electrical installation is in accordance with the requirements, it is suggested that the services of a qualified electrical contractor be employed who is registered on a self certification scheme for Part P of the regulations (Electrical Safety) and is able to provide you with an electrical certificate which confirms the design installation and testing of the system is in accordance with British Standard 7671.

For a porch to be considered to be exempt under Regulation 9 (Exempt Buildings & Work) of the Building Regulations 2010, the proposal must only be single storey, constructed at ground level and the internal floor area must not exceed 30 square metres. In addition glazing in critical locations must be toughened or laminated safety glass in accordance with British Standard 6206.

When the conservatory is attached to an existing dwelling provision must be made to limit the loss of heat from the dwelling. Ways of meeting the requirement would be:

a) to retain the existing separation where the opening is not to be enlarged; or

b) to provide separation by new windows and/or doors having a Window Energy Rating (WER) of Band C or better or a U-value of at least 1.6W/m²k (Watts per metre square kelvin)

Where an opening into the proposal is to be opening is enlarged or newly created as a material alteration an application will be required for the structural alteration only.

Though the construction of the porch may be exempt from the provisions of the Building Regulations 2010, the electrical installation associated with this is not. To establish that the electrical installation is in accordance with the requirements, it is suggested that the services of a qualified electrical contractor be employed who is registered on a self certification scheme for Part P of the regulations (Electrical Safety) and is able to provide you with an electrical certificate which confirms the design installation and testing of the system is in accordance with British Standard 7671.

Yes, but if you use an installer registered on the Competent Person Scheme below, all procedural matters will be dealt with as standard.

• CIGA (Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency Limited)

Yes, an application for Building Regulations Approval for the installation of replacement windows, doors and/or roof-lights will be required, unless the installer is registered on one of the following Competent Person Schemes:-

• BM Trada Certification Limited,
• British Standards Institution (BSI),
• CERTASS Limited,
• Fensa Limited or
• NETWORK VEKA Limited.

However, where an opening is to be enlarged an application for Building Regulations approval will be required irrespective of the fitters registration on one of the a fore mentioned schemes.

Yes, where the loading upon the roof is to be increased by more than 15 percent, appropriate strengthening works or replacement of roofing members must be undertaken. However where the roof loading is to be significantly decreased, appropriate works to the roof structure and anchorage must be undertaken to prevent uplift of the roof under wind loading. The only exception to this is if the work is to be carried out and completed by a company registered on the following competent person scheme:-

• NFRC (National Federation of Roofing Contractors Limited)

Yes, a Full Plans or Building Notice application for Building Regulations Approval will be required.

Please consider, if making a Planning Application, that the requirements of the Building Regulations may have an effect on the design and appearance of the building.