A firm involved in high-risk building inspections has faced professional sanctions.
- Assent’s inspection work was taken over by the Building Safety Regulator (BSR).
- The CIC Approved Inspectors Register (CICAIR) found breaches in Assent’s conduct.
- Issues include failing to provide an appropriate standard of service and compliance with building standards.
- Assent’s sanction follows a history of compliance failures, affecting over 50 projects.
A building control company, Assent, has recently been sanctioned by a professional disciplinary panel following the takeover of its high-risk building inspection work by the Building Safety Regulator (BSR). The sanction stems from the company’s failure to comply with specific clauses in its code of conduct as identified by the CIC Approved Inspectors Register (CICAIR).
The panel identified two primary breaches: a failure to provide an acceptable standard of service and a failure to comply with Building Control Performance Standards. Although the exact details of the misconduct were not disclosed, the panel’s notice highlighted the need for Assent to review its processes to minimise omissions during inspections and ensure final certificates are issued legitimately.
In May, it was reported that Assent’s omission to register as a building control approver contributed to the halt of over 50 higher-risk projects, allowing the BSR to oversee their applications. This issue was exacerbated by the liquidation of another firm, AIS Surveyors, around the same period, prompting increased scrutiny of Assent’s operational practices.
Assent has faced further condemnation from a separate disciplinary panel, which in January labelled its procedures as posing an ‘unacceptable risk’ of deficient buildings receiving unwarranted certification. The panel criticised the company’s inspection schedule, noting the prolonged duration between inspections could lead to undetected construction deficiencies.
In response to these findings, Assent’s spokesperson stated that the issues identified by CICAIR have been thoroughly investigated internally, resulting in improvements and development of the company’s systems and processes. Assent remains committed to aligning its operations with regulatory requirements, striving to deliver high standards of service.
The developments underscore the critical necessity for stringent oversight and adherence to building safety regulations within the industry.
