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.

The Building Standards National Annual Verification Performance Report provides aggregated information on the national level of performance of local authority building standards.

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 Issued

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

23 March 2020

(superseded 11 Dec 2020)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

16 October 2020

31 March 2021

13 July 2020

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 (an addendum to guidance)

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

The role of certification

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
This letter supersedes the Section 34 letters issued
on 22 May 2017, 27 July 2018 and 26 March 2021.

31 October 2023
  Notification of Application for Building Warrant - Section 2 Fire

26 March 2021
(This letter is supplementary to the letter of 27 July 2018)

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.

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