Monitoring performance
Local authority building standards verifiers
Local authorities are currently appointed as verifiers by Scottish Ministers for a set period. We monitor the performance of local authority verifiers who are responsible for administering the building standards system.
Verifiers are responsible for:
- implementing the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 and building regulations
- undertaking independent checks of buildings at design and construction stages
- grant building warrants (if they are satisfied the building work meets the building regulations)
- Accept completion certificates (if satisfied the building work meets the building regulations).
We monitor their building standards service using the building standards operating framework for verifiers (April 2024) and their performance using the building standards performance framework for verifiers (April 2024).
The performance framework is based around three perspectives:
- professional expertise and technical processes
- quality customer experience
- operational and financial efficiency
Previous versions of both framework documents are accessible below.
- building standards operating framework for verifiers (2021)
- building standards performance framework for verifiers (2021)
- building standards operating framework for verifiers (2017)
- building standards performance framework for verifiers (2017)
The Building Standards National Annual Verification Performance Report provides aggregated information on the national level of performance of local authority building standards.
- building standards national annual verification performance report for 2022 to 2023
- building standards national annual verification performance report for 2021 to 2022
Contact your local authority building standards department.
We published revised guidance on verification during construction for non-domestic and domestic buildings.
Recent letters to local authority verifiers are listed below. Other letters to local authority verifiers can be found in our website archive.
COVID-19 specific information |
||
Letters of guidance
|
Date in Force |
Expiry date |
Erection of temporary care assistance buildings |
||
11 March 2022 | 11 March 2022 | 30 September 2022 |
21 October 2021 | 21 October 2021 | N/A |
11 December 2020 | 11 December 2020 | N/A |
(superseded 11 Dec 2020) | 23 March 2020 | N/A |
Temporary buildings – hospitality |
||
21 October 2021 | 21 October 2021 | 30 September 2022 |
15 July 2021 | 15 July 2021 | 31 March 2022 |
1 March 2021 | 1 March 2021 | 30 September 2021 |
16 October 2020 |
31 March 2021 |
|
13 July 2020 | 30 September 2020 | |
Duration of building warrant(extending the validity and determination of application) (refusal and deemed refusal) |
||
21 October 2021 | 21 October 2021 | 30 September 2022 |
15 July 2021 | 15 July 2021 | 31 March 2022 |
1 March 2021 | 1 March 2021 | 30 September 2021 |
6 August 2020 |
31 October 2020 |
|
7 April 2020 | 7 April 2020 |
N/A |
Adaptations requiring building work to existing buildings – including guidance and FAQ |
||
21 October 2021 | 21 October 2021 | N/A |
30 June 2020 | 30 June 2020 | N/A |
Construction industry restart |
||
21 October 2021 | 21 October 2021 | N/A |
15 June 2020 | 15 June 2020 | N/A |
Remote Verification on building warrant work |
||
21 October 2021 | 21 October 2021 | N/A |
1 March 2021 | 1 March 2021 | N/A |
11 May 2020 | 11 May 2020 | N/A |
Certification |
||
21 October 2021 | 21 October 2021 | N/A |
16 June 2020 |
N/A | |
Unsigned certificates of design – Structural Engineers Registration Ltd |
6 April 2020 |
N/A |
Unsigned certificates of design – Building Research Establishment |
31 March 2020 | N/A |
Occupation of new building |
||
21 October 2021 | 21 October 2021 | N/A |
20 March 2020 | 20 March 2020 |
N/A |
General letters | |||
Legislation |
Standard |
Date issued | Date in force |
Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 | Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN) programme for rising main replacement works | 27 October 2023 | |
Guidance on Standard 3.14 - Carbon Dioxide Monitors Meeting Guidance | 11 January 2018 | ||
Structural Design of Cladding Systems - Wind Loading | 5 September 2017 | ||
Building (Scotland) Act 2003 |
Functions of Ministers, local authorities, verifiers and certifier | ||
Sections 4(2) and 4(4): notice relating to guidance documents | 25 March 2024 | 1 April 2024 | |
Sections 4(2) and 4(4): notice relating to guidance documents | 5 July 2022 | 1 December 2022 | |
Sections 4(2) and 4(4): notice relating to guidance documents | 1 June 2022 | 1 June 2022 | |
Sections 4(2) and 4(4): notice relating to guidance documents | 26 March 2021 | 1 April 2021 | |
Sections 4(2) and 4(4): notice relating to guidance documents | 2 December 2020 | 1 March 2021 | |
Sections 4(2) and 4(4): notice relating to guidance documents | 12 July 2019 | 1 October 2019 | |
Part 5 - General, Fire Door Testing: Guidance on existing fire doors | N/A | N/A | |
Part 5 - General, Fire Door Testing: Update on the sample testing of fire doors | 18 September 2018 | N/A | |
Part 5 - General, Fire Door Testing: Information on the sample testing of fire doors | 6 August 2018 | N/A | |
Section 34 - Reports and information | |||
Notification of Application for Building Warrant - Section 2 Fire |
31 October 2023 |
31 October 2023 | |
Notification of Application for Building Warrant - Section 2 Fire |
26 March 2021 |
22 May 2017 | |
Notification of Application for Building Warrant - Section 2 Fire | 27 July 2018 (this letter supercedes original letter of 22 May 2017) |
22 May 2017 |
Auditing building certifiers
We have been appointed by ministers to audit the certification schemes and providers. We use Part VII of the Building (Procedures) (Scotland) Regulations 2004 and the certification handbook to make sure scheme providers meet the required standards of service. We publish building certifiers audit reports after every investigation.
Auditing Energy Performance Certified organisations
Approved providers of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are subject to our auditing process and must abide by our EPC-approved organisations' operational framework. We carry out these investigations at least once every three years. Organisations have to share information about the scheme and its aims with the public.