Do I Need a RAMS for Domestic Work? What the Law Says

Quick Answer

Yes, CDM 2015 applies to domestic work. Whether you need a RAMS document depends on the size of the job and how many contractors are involved. For most small domestic projects with a single contractor, you still need proportionate planning and risk assessment. You just might not need to file an F10 notification with the HSE.

At a Glance

• CDM 2015 applies to all construction work in the UK, including domestic projects.
• Domestic client duties transfer to the contractor or principal contractor automatically.
• F10 notification is only needed for projects over 30 working days with 20+ workers, or 500+ person days.
• Single-contractor domestic jobs still need risk assessment and safe method planning.
• A RAMS document is a practical way to show you have planned the work safely.

What Counts as Domestic Work Under CDM 2015

CDM 2015, the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations, covers virtually all construction work in the UK. Domestic projects are not exempt. The previous version, CDM 2007, did exempt domestic clients from most duties, but that changed when CDM 2015 came in on 6 April 2015.

A domestic client is anyone having construction work done on their own home, or a family member's home, that is not connected to any trade or business. If you are renovating someone's house as part of a property development business, that is not a domestic client. But a homeowner having a new extension built for their own family is a domestic client.

The regulations treat domestic clients differently from commercial clients, but they do not ignore them. The duties still exist. They just pass to someone else on the project team. This is the bit most tradespeople miss, and it matters because it affects what paperwork you need to produce.

When RAMS Is Legally Required for Domestic Work

The F10 notification is the trigger most people have heard of. Under CDM 2015 Regulation 6, a project must be notified to the Health and Safety Executive when it crosses either of these thresholds:

• More than 30 working days of construction work AND more than 20 workers on site at any one time.
• More than 500 person days of construction work in total. (Person days are number of workers multiplied by number of days they work. Ten workers on site for 50 days is 500 person days.)

These thresholds are about notification, not about whether the work needs to be planned and risk assessed. On multi-contractor projects, a written construction phase plan must be in place before construction starts under Regulation 12(3)(a). On single-contractor domestic jobs, the paperwork duty is not the same, but the contractor still needs proportionate planning, risk assessment and method statement arrangements before work begins.

If you are on a domestic project that meets either F10 threshold, you need to submit notification to the HSE. You also need a principal designer if there is more than one contractor, and a principal contractor. The client does not need to do this themselves. On a domestic project, the contractor or principal contractor takes on those client duties.

When RAMS May Not Be Needed for a Domestic Project

For the majority of domestic jobs, the F10 threshold will not be met. A two-week kitchen renovation with a sole trader and maybe one or two helpers will not cross 30 working days or 500 person days. A small bathroom refit certainly will not.

But here is the part that catches people out. Even when F10 notification is not required, CDM 2015 still applies. On a multi-contractor project, the principal contractor needs a written construction phase plan. On a single-contractor domestic job, you still need to think about risks, plan the work safely and record enough detail to show how those risks will be managed. The threshold for F10 notification and the threshold for having sensible RAMS-style planning are not the same thing.

The practical answer is that for most genuine small domestic jobs, you will not need to file an F10. You will still need safety planning that is proportionate to the work. That is what a concise RAMS document helps you evidence. Do not assume no F10 means no paperwork. That is a misunderstanding that could leave you exposed.

The F10 Notification Trigger Explained

The F10 is a simple form submitted online to the HSE. It must be filed before construction begins. For domestic projects, the contractor or principal contractor is responsible for submitting it, because the client duties have transferred to them under Regulation 7.

The notification thresholds exist to make sure the HSE knows about larger projects where the risks are higher and where there is more need for regulatory oversight. They are not a target to aim for. They are a line that, once crossed, triggers a specific set of obligations.

For a typical domestic extension or renovation, it is unusual to hit these thresholds. A house extension taking six weeks with a small team of tradespeople will likely involve fewer than 20 workers on site at any one time and less than 30 working days of duration. Even if the total person days creep above 500, it is worth doing the calculation carefully. A project with five workers for 80 days is 400 person days, so it does not trigger F10 even though it runs a long time.

If you are unsure whether a project crosses the threshold, calculate it before you start. It is better to know than to get it wrong. The HSE can take enforcement action if a notifiable project is not notified.

What Contractors Actually Need to Do on Domestic Work

Under Regulation 7 of CDM 2015, the duties of the client transfer to the contractor on single-contractor domestic projects, and to the principal contractor on multi-contractor domestic projects. The HSE guidance is clear that for small domestic projects, this should involve little more than what a competent contractor would normally do in managing health and safety risks on site.

In practice, that means:

• For multi-contractor projects, the principal contractor needs a written construction phase plan before work starts. For single-contractor domestic work, you still need proportionate planning, risk assessment and a safe method of work.
• You need to identify and manage risks on site, and communicate those to anyone working with you.
• If you have more than one contractor on the job, you may need a principal contractor to coordinate the work. If no one has been formally appointed, the contractor in control of the construction work takes on that role automatically under Regulation 5(2).
• If the project meets the F10 threshold, you need to notify the HSE before construction begins.

For Single-Contractor Domestic Projects

When you are the only contractor on a domestic job, you carry both your own contractor duties and the client duties that have transferred to you. This sounds like a lot, but for a small job it is mostly about making sure you have planned the work, assessed the risks, and can show you have done so. A concise RAMS document covering the main hazards and controls is usually enough.

For Multi-Contractor Domestic Projects

When there is more than one contractor, a principal contractor needs to be in place. That person or company takes on the client duties plus the principal contractor duties. They need a written construction phase plan. They need to coordinate the work between trades. If you are one of several contractors on a domestic job, make sure you know who the principal contractor is and that they have the required documentation in place before you start work.

Common Misconceptions Cleared Up

CDM 2015 Does Not Apply to Small Domestic Jobs

This is the most widespread misconception, and it is wrong. CDM 2015 applies to all construction work, including domestic projects, regardless of size. The difference between a small job and a large one is what the regulations require of you, not whether the regulations apply at all.

A Domestic Client Asking for RAMS Is Just Being Difficult

Not really. A domestic client asking for RAMS documents is showing that they have some awareness of their duties. Under CDM 2015, a domestic client is not expected to know the detail of the regulations, but they are expected to make sure that whoever is managing the project is competent and making proper arrangements. Asking for a RAMS document is a reasonable thing for a homeowner to do.

You Only Need RAMS If the Project Is Notifiable

Notifiability is not the test for whether safety planning is needed. On multi-contractor projects, the principal contractor must produce a written construction phase plan. On single-contractor domestic projects, a formal construction phase plan is not required in the same way, but the contractor must still plan and manage the work safely. A RAMS document is a practical way to record the risk assessment and method statement detail that supports that planning.

The Homeowner Is Responsible for CDM Compliance on Domestic Projects

The domestic client has duties under CDM 2015, but because they are not expected to be familiar with the regulations, those duties transfer to the contractor or principal contractor. The homeowner does not need to notify the HSE or appoint duty holders themselves. If you are the contractor on a domestic project, you are carrying those duties.

Get Your RAMS Sorted for Domestic Work

Knowing whether you need RAMS for a domestic project comes down to two things. First, is this project notifiable under CDM 2015? Second, regardless of notification, have you planned the work, assessed the risks and recorded a method that is proportionate to the job?

For most domestic jobs, the answer to the first question will be no. The answer to the second should always be yes.

If you want a RAMS document that is clear, practical, and ready to share with a homeowner or use on site, RAMS Builder helps you get it done without wrestling with Word templates. It is built for small UK contractors who need to produce proper documentation without the hassle. See our pricing or browse our RAMS templates to see what works for your trade.

For more detail on how CDM 2015 affects your work, check out our guide to CDM 2015 domestic client duties and our overview of CDM for domestic projects.