JHAI Ltd , Assent And Occulus Applications (Initial Notices) - Ceased Trading

JHAI Ltd and Assent were private Building Control companies who ceased to be Approved Inspectors on the 1st October 2024.  

November 2025 Update: Occulus appear to be in the process of cancelling Initial Notices. You can follow the guidance below which is applicable to cancelled Initial Notices.

Please note: The advice below may be relevant if your Registered Building Control Approver has cancelled your Initial Notice.

If the private companies did not provide a final certificate for your works, the project ‘reverts’ to the Local Authority. One of three actions is required for these projects:

• If you have a final certificate for your works, you can provide it to us so your records can be updated.
• If works were never carried out, you can provide confirmation of this to us in writing and we will update our records.
• A reversion application dealt with by Cornwall Council Building Control. We are in the process of reverting all of these applications, however, there is a substantial amount to revert.

You can speed up the process by submitting a reversion application yourself. Please complete a Reversion application form, quoting your Approved Inspectors reference number. Submit your application form with as much relevant information relating to your project as possible (such as plans, site inspection notes, calculations). 

We would advise that any works currently in progress should be paused until a reversion application is processed.   

If you have any further queries please feel free to contact us at buildingcontrol@cornwall.gov.uk

Cornwall Council’s role with reversions

Cornwall Council is the Building Control Authority for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. This means we have a duty to take on cases where private building control companies are no longer able to provide the building control function. This means that Cornwall Council checks Building Regulation compliance for building works.

Final Certificates

This is a completion certificate issued by a private building control company to show that the works are complete and comply with the Building Regulations.

The Local Authority keeps a record of all Final Certificates. In some cases, our records may not be up to date.

Information and documents that we need to deal with your reversion application

We understand that in some cases these works may have been completed for a while, or the original application was submitted by the previous owner/builder and you aren’t able to provide much more information. However, as the current owner it is your responsibility now to ensure you contact us.

To assist us with overseeing/signing off your project, please provide us with as much information and documentation associated with the works including:

1. Site location plan (mandatory)
2. Block plan, Plans, elevations, section and specification and any other relevant details/product information etc.
3. Structural calculations (where relevant)
4. Mechanical and Electrical design details (where relevant)
5. Design stage SAP calculations (for new dwellings)
6. Fire strategy drawings and information (where relevant)
7. Fire Officer consultation response (for non-domestic projects and holiday lets/paying guest accommodation projects)
8. Plan ‘approval’ certificate from the Registered Building Control Approver
9. Inspection records (these should have been provided to you by the Approved Inspector)

Charges And bespoke fees

We have to charge a fee to cover our costs of administering this application. For the majority of domestic householder works that are already completed and considered compliant, the minimum charge will be £273.20. If works are found to be non-compliant, further fees may be payable depending on the amount of time required by us ensure compliance.

There will be a bespoke fee for commercial projects. 

If you decide not to engage with the Council

You should make your insurance company and mortgage provider aware that the building works are not complete.

If you do not have a Building Regulations final certificate or reversion completion certificate this is likely to cause issues when you sell your property.

There is a duty on the Local Authority to assess the risk involved with your project. If necessary, the Council can consider proceedings and/or prosecution under Sections 35 and 36 of The Building Act 1984.

Reversion Completion Certificate timescale

The timescale will depend on the amount of information you are able provide about the building works and what was inspected by your private building control company. Where no information is available or is incomplete, this may take a considerable amount of time. You may need to open up or expose works for our inspection. Non-compliant works will need to be rectified.

You should not assume that a certificate can be issued without sufficient evidence that the work complies with the Building Regulations.

On occasions, Cornwall Council may have a different view on compliance with the Building Regulations than your private building control company. If this is the case, we will consider all evidence provided, however, our decision is final.