Initial Notice Register

Anyone undertaking regulated building work has the option of using either the local authority service, a registered building control approver (RBCA), or where relevant, a registered competent person.

When an RBCA is used, the client and RBCA must serve an Initial Notice on the local authority to inform them of the decision to use the RBCA.

An RBCA is registered with the Building Safety Regulator, not the local authority, although local authorities do have a role in regulating some aspects of the RBCA’s work. Crucially, a RBCA cannot relax any requirement of the regulations, that can only be done by the local authority, Building Safety Regulator, or Secretary of State.

If you submit an Initial Notice to the local authority, then you must wait 5 days, or the notice will have not been legally served and you must then use the local authority service. You must also ensure that you do not occupy the building work prior to the issuing of a final certificate because the notice automatically lapses after a short period of time, which means that you then have no application in place for the work.

Central Building Control will not investigate complaints relating to projects where an Initial Notice is in force and will direct all queries to the relevant RBCA. This is because we have no jurisdiction to act.