RICS Predicts Building Control Inspector Shortage Amid Exodus from Profession

RICS IS warning that there is likely to be a shortage of registered building control inspectors this spring.

As part of the building safety overhaul, surveyors have to register by 6 April 2024 as building control professionals in England and Wales.

RICS blames the short time allowed between the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) approving independent assessment bodies and their assessment criteria for registration last year, and the deadline for registration.

It has meant that the profession has had insufficient time to prepare for such a big change in the registration process. RICS says it flagged this as did other bodies in discussions with the BSR last year.

Building Control Will Cease to Function

RICS has written to the Government warning that a “vast number of experts will not register in time”.

The organisation says “without appropriate registered professionals, local authorities and Registered Building Control Approver’s will cease to be able to undertake a building control function post 6 April 2024.”

A lack of registered building inspectors will have a wide-ranging effect on the construction industry. Consumers, construction contractors and clients will all be effected. This comes as the Government is pressing for greater building safety and more new home starts.

RICS says that current feedback suggests that there are a “significant number” of local authorities and private providers that will not have enough registered inspectors.

The surveyor’s organisation has highlighted the high levels of stress the registration deadline is causing in the building control profession.

It says there has been “an exodus from the profession of the vital expertise that we need in the coming months as part of the new regime – something which was flagged to Government by many in the industry.”

The result is already increased workloads for the severely limited number of building control professionals left.

A RICS spokesperson says, “We are hearing worrying reports of individuals in crisis, suffering extreme stress, anxiety, and depression affecting many families.

“As such, we request an urgent review of the position of all local authorities and private providers in England and Wales, to determine their position with regards to the number of surveyors likely to be certified and registered prior to the deadline.”

Building control professionals are advised to regularly check on the RICS website for updates.

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