Consumer FAQs >

Certass is a UKAS approved Certification Scheme that checks individual contractors and companies competence against set standards. Our scope of certification is shown on this websites home page.

Certass is a government approved Competent Person Scheme (CPS) in England and Wales and was granted its license on 6th April 2006. You can check the validity of our government approval by visiting the Communities and Local Government’s website at www.communities.gov.uk . Certass is independently checked annually by UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service)

The Building Regulations 2010 (as amended) are a set of mandatory functional requirements established in law to protect the health, safety, welfare and convenience of building users and people who might be affected by buildings or matters connected with buildings. They also define the thermal performance of buildings and building works.

The Building Regulations are not concerned with aesthetics (what the installations looks like) or the quality of the installation so long as it does not adversely affect the thermal performance or the health, safety, welfare and convenience of building users and the general public.

Therefore poor finishing of an installation such as untidy sealant, large trims or uneven finishes although not satisfactory to a householder may well not breach the building regulations. Such issues are likely to be contractual issues that should be taken up with the installer at the time of the installation.

Competent Person Schemes were set up by the government to provide an alternative to submitting a building notice or using an approved Local Authority inspector for certain home improvements. Members of Competent Person Schemes are able to self-certify that their work meets current building regulations and are also able to register the work with the local authority on behalf of the homeowner.

All Certass registered contractors are vetted to ensure they are qualified to carry out installation work in accordance with the current building regulations and, once an installation is complete, Certass provides you with the Building Regulation Compliance Certificate for the work carried out.

Alternatively, notification and approval of the completed work can be sought from your Local Authority’s Building Control department directly. This can cost in excess of £250.

Certass inspects a percentage of each registered Certass contractors work to ensure that current standards of building regulations are complied with.

Certass will issue the Building Regulation Compliance Certificate directly to the homeowner within 7 working days of receiving notification of the completed works from your Certass contractor.

Since 1st April 2002, all replacement window and door installations must be covered by a Building Regulation Compliance Certificate issued either from a member of an authorised Competent Person Scheme or directly from the building control department of your local authority.

Please email our offices on [email protected] to check that your Certass contractor has registered your installation with us. If your details are registered we will check the date your certificate was sent to you. If you haven’t received your certificate and it’s within 28 days of our original date of issue, we will send you another certificate free of charge. There will be a small charge of £24 inclusive of VAT for any certificate we re-issue where 28 days or more has passed since the original date of issue. If your installation is not registered with us, you will need to contact your contractor and arrange for them to register the works with us. We will notify your local authority on your behalf and issue your Building Regulation Compliance Certificate with working 7 days. Replacement Certificates can be requested using our web form.

No. Certass is only permitted to issue Building Regulation Compliance Certificates for works carried out and completed by current Certass members.

You will need to apply for consent from the building control department of your local authority before beginning your installation works. Your local authority will make a charge when inspecting the completed works.

No. This is classed as a repair and Building Regulation Compliance Certificates are only required for complete replacement, i.e. glazing unit and frame.

Your contractor will be able to advise you which Competent Person Scheme he is a member of. Before agreeing or making any payment to the contractor for the intended works, it is always best to independently verify with the scheme directly that a valid membership is held for the contractor. You can call our office or use the consumer search facility on our website here.

Certass will notify your local authority of your completed installation providing the works have been carried out by a current Certass contractor.

No, your solicitor will need to pass the Building Regulation Compliance Certificate to the buyer’s solicitor in order to complete the sale of the property.

Yes, your solicitor will need to Building Regulation Compliance Certificate in order to complete the sale of your property.

All homeowners having replacement windows and door installations fitted after 1st April 2002 are required to have a Building Regulation Compliance Certificate for their completed works. It is important that you can produce a Building Regulation Compliance Certificate to show that installation complied with the building regulations at the time the work was carried out. If the installation does not comply with building regulations, the work will not be legal and you could be prosecuted and fined up to £5000.

There is a small charge of £24 including VAT for replacement certificates ordered 28 days after the original issue date. To order a replacement use our web form. Note: we can only process replacement orders using the form.

No, these are outside of the Certass remit. For further information on these, you need to contact the building control department of your local authority.

Yes, providing it is replacing a window in your roof of exactly the same size. If it’s a different size or if you are installing a brand new window in your roof, you may need planning permission from your local authority.

All Certass registered Competent Person contractors are required to provide an insurance policy from their chosen provider, to cover their own guarantee, should they cease trading.

 Please click here for the process to follow in the event of a dispute with a Certass contractor.

Terms and conditions can be found here.

This page of our website explains about Window and Door Energy Ratings https://certass.co.uk/products-2/