Decision

To introduce Reversion fees and charges from 3rd November.

Reasons for the decision

A national Registered Building Control Approver (RBCA) Assent (inc LB Building Control and Oculus) have ceased trading. The regulations state a cancellation notice will be issued for all work registered to an RBCA and following seven days, if work has not been secured with an alternative RBCA, all work will be transferred to the Local Authority to conclude work and ensure Building Regulation compliance.

We have received 300 cancellation notices and to date over 80 applications, with the remainder to follow within the coming weeks. This process is very time consuming, generating at least three hours administration time and a further two hours covering inspection visits to ascertain the extent of the works outstanding and assessing the design and build elements to date. We have not encountered the volume of Revision applications in the past as they are extremely rare. I have introduced a Reversion application fee to cover the administration, initial inspection and a final inspection.

This will cover our costs whilst we process the application and conclude works that require a final inspection. Other Reversion applications with a more complex solution and require additional inspections will be aligned with the current Regularisation fees, minus the Reversion application fee but subject to VAT.

Alternative options considered

There are currently no allowances for reversion fees.