A ‘P certificate’ may refer to confirmation that electrical installations within a building are compliant with Approved Document P of the building regulations.

An electrician who is Part P certified is able to self-certify domestic work they complete, meaning you do not have to submit a building notice. To ensure your electrician is Part P certified, use a registered competent person.

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Planning permission is not required if the home will be used as a short-term let for 90 days or less throughout the year.

If you plan on using the home as a short-term let for more than this time period, then you will need to apply for planning permission for a change of use.

If you rent a room in your property while you still live there, you will not require planning permission.

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Many homeowners choose to replace their traditional polycarbonate conservatory roof with a solid tiled roof for better thermal efficiency.

If the change significantly alters the structure or appearance of the roof, then planning permission may be required. Most alterations to roofs are considered permitted development, providing they meet the limits set out in legislation.

A new roof must comply with building regulations to ensure it is structurally safe, energy efficient and properly ventilated.

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Certain types of development are granted planning permission by national legislation without the need to submit a planning application. This is known as 'permitted development'. In order to be eligible for these permitted development rights, each 'class' specified in the legislation has associated limitations and conditions that proposals must comply with.

One such condition on certain classes of permitted development is the need to submit an application to the local planning authority for its 'prior approval; or to determine if it’s 'prior approval' will be required.

This allows the local planning authority to consider the proposals, their likely impacts in regard to certain specific factors (e.g. transport and highways) and how these may be mitigated.

For more information on prior approval, read guidance on prior approval consent types.

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Work to refit a bathroom with new units and fittings does not generally require building regulations approval, although drainage or electrical works that form part of the refit may require approval under the building regulations.

If a bathroom is to be provided in a room where there wasn't one before, building regulations approval is likely to be required to ensure that the room will have adequate ventilation and drainage, and meet requirements with respect to structural stability, electrical and fire safety.