Builder fined £19,600 for ten building safety breaches in Arun district

Tuesday, 10 November 2026 at 09:45

By Philip Keeler

A builder has been fined nearly £20,000 after being prosecuted by Arun District Council for ten breaches of building safety regulations.

The prosecution followed building work carried out within the Arun district which failed to meet required safety standards, potentially putting homeowners at risk.

At Brighton Magistrates’ Court on 12 October 2026, the builder was fined £19,600 and ordered to pay £1,600 in compensation to the affected homeowners.

The court also imposed a £2,000 victim surcharge, while Arun District Council recovered its prosecution costs.

The case was brought following repeated failures to comply with building regulations, which are designed to ensure construction and renovation work meets essential safety requirements.

As part of the court proceedings, the affected homeowners were also advised to withhold the outstanding balance of their renovation contract rather than make any further payments to the builder.

Arun District Council has welcomed the ruling, saying it demonstrates its commitment to protecting residents and taking enforcement action when building safety standards are breached.

Councillor Sue Wallsgrove, Deputy Chair of the council's Environment Committee, said: “Building regulations exist to keep people safe and to ensure that work carried out on homes meets the standards residents have a right to expect.

“When those standards are not met, it can have a significant impact on householders. This case demonstrates that we will take appropriate action where necessary to protect residents and uphold building safety requirements.

“We hope it also reassures residents that concerns about building safety will be taken seriously and investigated thoroughly.”

The council says the prosecution reinforces the importance of complying with building regulations and highlights the consequences for contractors who fail to meet their legal responsibilities.

Residents planning building or renovation work are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the relevant regulations and ensure that any work carried out on their property meets the required standards.

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