Habitation Certificates for New Build Properties

Summary

The requester asked for statistics on Habitation Certificates and air tightness tests for new builds over the last two years. The authority clarified that it issues Completion Certificates instead of Habitation Certificates and provided the specific counts for both metrics.

Key Facts

• DEFA Building Control Authority does not issue 'Habitation Certificates' but issues 'Completion Certificates'.
• Building control for Douglas Borough Council and Onchan Parish Commissioners is handled separately by those bodies.
• Completion Certificate data is available via the Cabinet Office's OPEN data page.
• Air tightness tests are only conducted on domestic new builds.
• The response covers the specific timeframe from 17 July 2016 to 16 July 2018.

Data Disclosed

• 1,414 completion certificates issued between 17/7/16 and 16/7/18
• 88 air tightness tests conducted between 17/7/16 and 16/7/18
• Reference number 530539
• Date received: 17 July 2018
• Date of response: 18 July 2018

Original Request

Please can building control confirm how many properties have been granted Habitation certificates in the last 2 years. Of the properties awarded habitation certificates in the last 2 years can the department confirm how many of the properties have received air tightness test certificates?

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Freedom of Information Co-ordinator Corporate Services Directorate Thie Slieau Whallian, Foxdale Road, St John’s, Isle of Man, IM4 3AS Tel no (01624) 685854 Fax no (01624 685851 Email: defa@gov.im www.gov.im

Our ref: 530539 18 July 2018

Dear ###

This request is being handled under the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (the Act). We write further to your request which was received on 17 July 2018 and which states:

"Please can building control confirm how many properties have been granted Habitation certificates in the last 2 years. Of the properties awarded habitation certificates in the last 2 years can the department confirm how many of the properties have received air tightness test certificates?"

Our response to your request is as follows: For clarity, the two parts of your question have been answered separately below.

1. Please can building control confirm how many properties have been granted Habitation certificates in the last 2 years I can confirm that the Isle of Man Government’s DEFA Building Control Authority regulates all of the Island, with the exception of areas covered by Douglas Borough Council and Onchan Parish Commissioners, which both operate their own Building Control Services. The DEFA Building Control Authority does not issue ‘habitation certificates’, but it does issue Completion Certificates. Completion Certificates are issued on all concluded applications where a request is made, whether they are for built extensions, new builds, domestic works or commercial. Lists of these are available via the Cabinets Office’s OPEN data page https://www.gov.im/about-the-government/departments/cabinet-office/open- data/energy-and-environment/building-control-data/ I can advise for the ‘last two years’ time frame, 17/7/16 to 16/7/18, 1,414 completion certificates were issued.

2. Of the properties awarded habitation certificates in the last 2 years, can the department confirm how many of the properties have received air tightness test certificates? Air tightness tests are only conducted on domestic new builds. I can advise for the ‘last two years’ time frame, 17/7/16 to 16/7/18, 88 air tightness tests were conducted. Your right to request a review

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