THOUSANDS of homeowners and DIY enthusiasts will be hit in the pocket by new building regulations approved by the Government.

From April 1, homeowners will have to buy their windows from a registered double glazing firm or pay about £100 for local authority approval.

At the same time, windows will have to be replaced with double glazing using energy-efficient glass.

The regulations have been brought in as part of Britain's commitment to conserving energy. They are also designed to make customers aware of cowboy traders.

But double glazing companies say it has left them absorbing the costs for conforming to new specifications and becoming registered to the new governing body - Fensa (Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme).

Sandy Baxter, managing director of Polar Windows, in Middlesbrough, said: "The specifications of windows and doors have gone up, which means the costs have gone up because of the quality of the glass that now has to be installed."

All double glazing companies will have to be registered to Fensa at a cost of about £800 per year and pay £100 every time the body inspects work, amounting to one in every 100 jobs.

The rules will also bring an end to DIY enthusiasts saving cash by fitting their own windows on projects such as bathroom or toilet conversions.

The scheme does not apply to replacing broken windows.

Tony Kemp, building control manager with Stockton Borough Council, said if people applied to the council for approval, in the same way regular planning permission works, they would not have the staff to cope with the scheme.