Building Standards

Building Warrant Fee Increases 2024

February 19, 2024 by Simon Moore No Comments | Category Building Standards, Futures Board

Building warrant fees will increase from 1 April 2024 following a Public Consultation in 2023. Fees are being increased to support the changes being introduced to strengthen the building standards system through the work of the Futures Board programme.

The Futures Board provides guidance, advice, and support on implementing the recommendations made by the expert review panels on Compliance & Enforcement and Fire Safety in 2018, following the Grenfell Tower fire and construction failings in public buildings in Scotland.

The changes are part of a 3-year model to increase fees annually, dependent on monitoring and reporting. They include an inflation uplift from 2017 and funding to support the Building Standards Hub, from 24 May 2024. The increase will provide additional resources for verifiers to support a strengthened compliance process through the introduction of the new compliance plan and increased checks and inspections, especially for High Risk Buildings. Increased fees will also support the additional auditing and monitoring of Verifiers and Certifiers.

The additional fee income generated by the increased fee levels is designed to deliver an additional £5 million nationally in year 1 (2024/25), when modelled against current fee rates. This is equivalent to an approximate increase of 10% to local authority building warrant fee income. The new fee levels as per The Building (Fees)(Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024 can be found on legislation.gov.uk.

The increase for the lowest building warrant fees rate will increase from £150 to £200. The set fee increments for each fee band above a value of building works of £10,000 will increase by an average of 14%. With the increase in the set increment between fee bands, the building warrant fees will increase an average of 15% for building works valued up to £1 million with the greatest percentage increase being towards the lower value of work bands under £10,000.

Fixed fees are to be increased from £100 to £150, £150 to £200, and £200 to £250, respectively. Fixed fees are applicable for warrant applications that cover conversions, demolitions, and extensions and amendments to building warrants. Fixed fees for demolition and conversion of a building where a completion certificate has been submitted, but no warrant was granted is to be increased from £300 to £400.

Fixed discounts for Certification of Design and Construction will also increase proportionally to the increase in fees in the same value of work band.

If you would like any further information on changes to building warrant fees or any other work carried out by the Futures Board work streams, please contact us at BuildingStandards@gov.scot.

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