Permits Might Be “Boring” Until Someone Dies or Your House Burns Down

Let me be absolutely clear:

Permits aren’t optional. They’re essential.

They exist to save lives, prevent disasters, and protect your home.

And yet, far too many subcontractors — especially on domestic jobs — don’t use them.

Or worse, they roll their eyes and say, “We don’t need that. We’ve done it loads of times.”

That’s exactly when things go wrong.

🚫 No Permit = No Cover

Here’s the thing most homeowners don’t realise:

If someone does hot works (like soldering pipework) in your house without a permit…

And they don’t have the right PPE, fire mats, or extinguishers on hand…

And the house catches fire?

🔥 Your insurance won’t pay out. 🔥

Because you allowed work to happen without risk controls in place. And that’s on you!

🛠 What Are Permits For?

Permits are used for high-risk activities.

They are not red tape. They are not overkill.

They are a checklist, completed between a manager and the person doing the task, to ensure:

• The job is clearly defined

• The risks are identified

• Controls are in place

• Everyone is safe

And if you’re having work done on your home any good company would be operating aper mit system to protect their operatives.

🧾 Common Permits You Should Expect (and Insist On)

1. Permit to Dig / Breaking Ground - Before any digging happens, a CAT & Genny scan should be completed to check for live electrical cables or gas pipes. Miss this step? You could blow up half the street. No joke.

2. Hot Works Permit - If someone is using flame or heat (e.g. soldering copper), the permit ensures:

   1. Fire extinguishers are on hand

   2. Heat mats are used

   3. A fire watch is done after the work finishes

3. Confined Space Permit - Working in a crawl space, inspection pit, or underground duct?

   You need:

   1. Proper training

   2. A rescue plan

   3. Gas detection if applicable

   Because if someone passes out down there, how are you getting them out

4. Ladder Permit - If someone’s using a ladder, this confirms:

   1. It’s the right type

   2. It’s on stable ground

   3. It’s been inspected

   4. It’s not a wobbly old relic from 1994

Falls from ladders are one of the top causes of site injuries and deaths.

5. Loft Space Permit - Lofts get roasting hot in summer and often involve lone working. Permits ensure someone’s been briefed, hydrated, and safe while up there.

6. Public Domain Work - If work is happening near a pavement, driveway, or shared access area, a permit should confirm:

   1. Barriers are in place

   2. Trenches are covered

   3. The public can’t accidentally fall into a hole

7. Lone Working Permit - If someone is working alone (e.g. on a roof or in a garden room), the permit should ask:

   1. What happens if they fall?

   2. Who’s supervising?

   3. How long will they be alone?

👉 I had this exact debate with my partner recently.

He wanted to build another summerhouse — solo.

I told him: You’re going up on that roof alone, you’re getting a crash deck.

No excuses.

🙄 “Permits Are a Pain” — Yeah, So Is a Lawsuit

Some trades see permits as annoying paperwork.

But here’s the truth:

• Permits aren’t about slowing work down

• They’re about not putting someone in hospital

• They protect the people doing the job, your home, and you

Big contractors use them because they’re best practice.

Small contractors should be using them — but often don’t.

If I ever run my own jobs?

I’ll use permits on every single one.

No matter the size.

Because safety is not negotiable.

✅ What You Should Be Asking As a Homeowner:

• Are permits in place for high-risk tasks?

• Who’s signing them off?

• Can I see one?

• Are your subcontractors using them too?

Don’t assume. Ask. Demand it. If they laugh it off or get defensive? That’s a red flag. Walk away.

💬 Final Thought: If You Don’t Ask for Permits, You’re Taking the Risk

You wouldn’t let a doctor perform surgery without a checklist. So why let someone work on your house without one?

Permits aren’t bureaucracy.

They’re protection — for them, for you, for everyone.

Don’t leave it to chance.

Don’t leave it to luck.

Make permits part of your project. Always.

📹 I’ll be breaking down each type of permit on @TheUnfilteredFemaleSiteManager very soon — so you know exactly what to ask for, and how to spot when someone’s winging it.

Want a printable “Permit Expectation Guide” for homeowners? Let me know I’ll make it. Because knowledge = safety.