Compliance Agent · Builders & construction
The UK builder compliance checklist.
Construction compliance is where health-and-safety law, tax law and industry card schemes collide. A small building firm answers to the HSE for how it plans and runs the job, to HMRC for how it pays its subcontractors, and to main contractors for whether its people can even get on site.
Here is the checklist that applies to a typical building business in England, including the parts that surprise firms who mostly do domestic work.
At a glance
What the Compliance Agent tracks for builders & construction.
Builders & construction
CDM 2015 · CIS- Legally required: CDM 2015 duties apply to every construction project, however small.
- Legally required: Projects lasting more than 30 working days with 20+ workers at once, or over 500 person-days, must be notified to HSE (form F10) before work starts.
- Legally required: Contractors must register with HMRC for CIS. Unregistered subcontractors are deducted at 30% instead of 20%.
- Scheme or industry-expected: CSCS cards are the accepted proof of competence to get onto most sites.
The checklist in depth
CDM 2015 applies to every job, including the small ones
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 apply to every construction project, however small. A loft conversion is caught just as a hospital is. Every project needs a written construction phase plan before construction begins, proportionate to the risk: for a small domestic job that can be a short, simple document, but it must exist.
On domestic jobs there is a twist many firms miss: the client’s CDM duties pass to the contractor by default, or to the principal contractor where more than one contractor is involved. On a domestic extension, the legal duties of the client are usually yours.
When the HSE must be told: the F10
A project must be notified to the HSE on form F10 if construction work will last more than 30 working days with more than 20 workers on site at any one time, or will exceed 500 person-days. Notification is the client’s duty and must be made as soon as practicable before the construction phase begins, though on domestic jobs that duty, like the others, lands on the contractor.
The money side: CIS
Contractors must register with HMRC for the Construction Industry Scheme and verify each subcontractor before paying them. Registered subcontractors are deducted at 20%; unregistered ones at 30%. Subcontractors with a good compliance history can apply for gross payment status and be paid with no deduction at all.
Contractors then file a CIS return every month, due by the 19th and covering every payment and deduction. It is a rhythm, and firms that treat it as ad hoc accumulate penalties.
Cards, competence and getting on site
CSCS cards are not a legal requirement, but they are the accepted proof of competence on most UK sites, and main contractors treat them as non-negotiable. Cards expire, and renewing means evidencing a current CITB Health, Safety & Environment test. A firm’s diary should track every operative’s card and test date, because an expired card is a worker who cannot get through the gate.
These examples are typical for England and are a summary, not the full picture. Rules differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and depend on the exact work you do. This page is general information, not legal advice. Always confirm your obligations with the relevant regulator, scheme or a qualified adviser.
FAQ
Builders & construction compliance, answered.
Does CDM 2015 apply to small domestic jobs?
Yes. CDM 2015 applies to every construction project, however small, and every project needs a construction phase plan before work begins, proportionate to the risk. On domestic jobs the client’s duties normally pass to the contractor, or to the principal contractor where more than one contractor is involved.
When do I need to send an F10 to the HSE?
When construction work will last more than 30 working days with more than 20 workers on site at any one time, or will exceed 500 person-days. The notification must be made as soon as practicable before the construction phase begins. It is formally the client’s duty, but on domestic projects it falls to the contractor.
What is the difference between 20% and 30% CIS deductions?
20% is the deduction for subcontractors registered with HMRC under CIS; 30% applies to unregistered subcontractors. Subcontractors with a good tax compliance history can apply for gross payment status and be paid without deduction. Contractors must verify each subcontractor and file monthly returns by the 19th.
Is a CSCS card a legal requirement?
No. It is an industry card scheme, not statute. In practice most main contractors require a valid CSCS card for site access, so it operates like a requirement. Cards expire and renewal needs a current CITB Health, Safety & Environment test, so track the dates for every operative.
Do I need a written construction phase plan for a one-person job?
Yes. CDM 2015 requires a construction phase plan for every project before construction begins. For a simple, low-risk domestic job it can be short; the HSE publishes guidance (CIS80) aimed at exactly this. What it cannot be is absent.
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