In a significant move, she has urged senior officials at the HSE, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), and the Welsh Government to postpone the competence assessment deadline by six months for a smoother transition. She cautioned in a letter that many building-control professionals might not attain certification before the deadline, leading to “a significant number of authorities” in England and Wales being unable to carry out building control.
According to Stimpson, the absence of registered building inspectors in a local authority would have broad repercussions on the construction industry, consumers, regulatory enforcement, and compliance. She states that the profession has had insufficient time to grasp the new requirements, with numerous surveyors yet to apply for registration or competence testing and also expressed concerns about the mental health impact on staff at the independent assessor bodies, with building control professionals experiencing a high level of stress due to the deadline.
She suggested that building surveyors should adhere to the BSR’s codes of conduct from 6 April and be enrolled in an independent assessment scheme, working towards certification by the revised deadline.
FIS chief executive Iain McIlwee said: “This is undoubtedly a concern for all in the supply chain as delays can be expensive and disruptive. We urge all members to pay careful attention to their contracts and any liabilities associated with delay that could be imposed on them and encourage Government to heed the warnings of the LABC who are working closely with their local authority members to ensure that political ideology is matched to practical considerations and that we are all working together to deliver a safer and better culture in the construction sector supported by effective regulation and pragmatic, but robust enforcement.”