Building control completion certificates in BCP Council
Selling or remortgaging a home in Dorset (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) and missing the completion certificate for an extension, loft conversion, windows, boiler or electrical work? Here is what BCP Council charges, how long its archive takes, and why checking all registers in one search saves time and protects indemnity insurance.
BCP Council at a glance
| Council fee | £66 non-refundable search fee per address |
| Council turnaround | 10 working days |
| Key restriction | Owner or solicitor only; previous owner's consent required for older applications; non-refundable |
What is on BCP Council's online register
BCP treats building control files as private records rather than open public documents, requiring a formal search request to check historic applications.
Council archive fees & timescales
BCP charges a non-refundable £66 search fee per property address upfront, with a 10-working-day turnaround from receiving both the request and the payment.
Restrictions on who can request records
BCP only releases completion certificates and decision notices from the last 15 years to the property owner or a solicitor involved in the sale — and requires the previous owner's written consent before releasing applications made by a previous owner.
How far back records go
BCP provides records for the last 15 years (for the former Poole area, older records sit with the Dorset History Centre).
Why BCP Council often isn't the archive that holds your certificate
Building work can be signed off by the council, by a private approved inspector, or (for replacement windows, boilers, rewires and solar panels) by an installer registered with a competent person scheme. Only council-inspected work is held by BCP Council. For everything else, the certificate sits with FENSA, CERTASS, Gas Safe, NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA or MCS — which is why our search checks all 8 schemes alongside the council.
Protect your indemnity insurance option: Building Regulations indemnity policies are usually written on the basis that the council has not been contacted about the missing certificate. See why. When you order with My Certs, you can tick public register check only in Step 2 so we check BCP Council's online register and all 8 schemes without ever emailing or phoning the council.
Search BCP Council and all 8 registers in 1 working day
Enter the property address and we check BCP Council's online register plus FENSA, CERTASS, Gas Safe, NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA, MCS and the EPC register within 1 working day. It's £79 including the official fees for up to 2 replacement copies, backed by our no record, no fee refund promise.
Questions
How much does BCP Council charge for a completion certificate search?
£66 non-refundable search fee per address (when checked on 27 October 2026). By contrast, a My Certs search checks the council's online register and all 8 national certificate schemes in 1 working day for £79, with a full refund under our no record, no fee guarantee if nothing is found.
How long does BCP Council take compared with My Certs?
BCP Council quotes 10 working days. With My Certs, you get first written findings from the online registers and public council index within 1 working day.
Can a buyer or solicitor check BCP Council without alerting the council?
Yes. By ticking public register check only in Step 2 of our order form, we inspect the public online register and all 8 competent person schemes without contacting BCP Council's building control team, keeping Building Regulations indemnity insurance available.
Other councils
My Certs is an independent service and is not part of or endorsed by BCP Council. This is general information, not legal advice.