A FENSA certificate is important to acquire for UK residents to prove that their door and window installation is up to par with the government’s standards. Short for Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme, the FENSA certification is also important when you have to sell your house or property.
But what if you don’t have this certificate? This is a critical query for numerous people, so we’re going to discuss every scenario regarding this matter: Why do you need it? What if you don’t have one? How can you sell your house without the certification? and more. So, let’s get started…
You need a FENSA certificate to prove that your door, window, and roof lighting installation fulfils the Building Regulations concerning ventilation, safety, and energy efficiency. Established in 2002, the certificate is issued only when your doors and windows are installed by a FENSA-approved installer. Moreover, it also shows that the company that has installed your doors and windows is insured, which further signifies that the warranty on them is valid.
You need this certificate while selling your property, and not having one might cause your buyer to either delay the sale or request further proof of regulation compliance. The problems just start here. You can also face charges for non-compliance and potential prosecution, causing you to incur unnecessary expenses on these things. Your work may still not be rectified by the local authority. Having a FENSA certificate simplifies everything. No selling delays, no legal complications you’ve to go through, and total peace of mind.
Let’s go into details about how you can deal with the missing certificate issue:
FENSA certificates became a requirement only in April 2002. So, you can first confirm that if your windows were installed before this date. If this is the case, then you don’t need a certificate, and it wouldn’t be an issue. But if this is otherwise, then you can check with your previous homeowner or the company that installed the windows to see if a certificate was ever issued. Another way to verify your certificate’s issuance is by searching the FENSA database.
Another practical yet expensive option is to apply for a Regularisation Certificate through your local body. This is a kind of retrospective building regulation approval, where a building control officer examines the installation to ensure it complies with the required standards. Although more expensive than acquiring a FENSA certificate, the regularisation certificate is important to obtain for legal compliance if you don’t have the former.
FENSA offers a service for online certificate delivery for around £30 per certificate, by just submitting an online form. All you have to do is enter your address and the installer’s name. This is perhaps the most convenient and straightforward solution if your windows were set up by a licenced installer and you just misplaced your original certificate.
If you’re planning future window installations, consider hiring a contractor who is a member of a Competent Person Scheme, like FENSA. These schemes allow the contractor to self-certify their work, meaning that you won’t have to apply for Building Regulation approval separately. Other schemes similar to FENSA include Certass and BM Trada.
If you are preparing to sell your home but lack a FENSA certificate for recent window installations, there are some steps you can take to avoid complications:
When you don’t have a FENSA certificate and need to sell your house, the most widely followed solution is to have an indemnity insurance. Because having this insurance means no action can be taken by the local body about your windows’ compliance with the Building Regulations.
You just need to pay a one-time premium during the selling process of your property, and can then reap the benefits. Indemnity insurance is a more economical and quicker solution than going through the building control survey process. Just make sure that the insurance coverage includes the rectification costs and that the insurance can only be taken out after 12 months of installation to avoid any potential problems.
You can apply to your local building control for a retrospective inspection, though this process can be more expensive and time-consuming. This method is often chosen if there is concern that the installation may not comply with current standards.
Also mentioned earlier, this solution is for those who had a FENSA certificate but lost it for some reason. You can visit the FENSA website and order a replacement online, as long as your installer was licenced and compliant.
If your windows were installed before 2002, a FENSA certificate would not have been required, so you won’t need to worry about proving compliance through FENSA. However, if your windows were fitted after this date, you may need to consider some of the solutions outlined above.
If you installed your window through a DIY method or by a non-certified installer, then it’s obvious that you wouldn’t have gotten a FENSA certificate issued. In such a situation, you can apply for a building control approval, and if you’re selling the house, then taking out indemnity insurance would be ideal.
Maybe you didn’t get the certificate while buying the home from the original owner, thinking that there wasn’t a requirement for one. If this is the case and you are also not planning to sell your house soon, then ask your previous homeowner first. If he doesn’t have the certificate as well, then acquiring retrospective approval is wise to avoid complications down the road.
Remember, having the original FENSA certificate is the only reliable and cost-effective solution, as you might have learned from the article. Therefore, the best option is to avoid misplacing one or not having one in the first place.
To ensure this, remember to hire a FENSA-certified installer as they will automatically provide you with the required certificate. This will save you from the hassle of applying for building control approval. After acquiring the certificate, remember to keep it in a safe place, as you will need it during an inspection or while selling your property.
You’ve now learned the importance of having a FENSA certificate as well as the consequences of not having one. You need it while selling your property and to show compliance with Building Regulation standards.
If you’re currently considering installing new windows like sash or casement, we suggest you reach out to Original Sash Repairs. We’re experienced in window installation, repair, painting, and upgradation for different residential and commercial properties. So, get in touch now for satisfied window installations through our licenced experts because we frame your world with precision and care.
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