The importance of a FENSA certificate

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Buckinghamshire
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When I moved to this property 4 years ago the solicitor that dealt with the purchase asked the sellers daughter for all the FENSA certificates for the UPVC windows and doors that had been installed over the years.
As they were fitted at different times and by different companies she could not get some of the certificates.

I liked the property so went on with the purchase.

I am thinking of installing a second hand UPVC conservatory and it will not come with a FENSA ceritificate.
Just wondering if it would put you off purchasing a property if the previous owner did not have all the FENSA certificates for any UPVC installations?
 
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Just get building control in to inspect the installation and sign it off. Won't cost much and saves a ball ache when you come to sell.
 
When I moved to this property 4 years ago the solicitor that dealt with the purchase asked the sellers daughter for all the FENSA certificates for the UPVC windows and doors that had been installed over the years.
As they were fitted at different times and by different companies she could not get some of the certificates.

I liked the property so went on with the purchase.

I am thinking of installing a second hand UPVC conservatory and it will not come with a FENSA ceritificate.
Just wondering if it would put you off purchasing a property if the previous owner did not have all the FENSA certificates for any UPVC installations?

A conservatory doesnt need a FENSA certificate.

Not having the certs for windows is small beer -I cant see it putting anybody off, you will have to pay indemnity insurance.

As above says, you could pay building control to sign it off
 
It did not put me off buying the property as overall it was better than the others I had viewed.
I just wondered how others would feel about it.

Is getting building control to sign it off just a matter of contacting the relevant department of the council and paying someone to come out and look at the quality of the conservatory and quality of the installation?

On another note I am looking at buying a base and dwarf wall from Durabase of Conservabase.
 
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Is getting building control to sign it off just a matter of contacting the relevant department of the council and paying someone to come out and look at the quality of the conservatory and quality of the installation

Quality has nothing to do with it.

Building control will only be interested to check the install complies with relevant regs.

In regards to the conservatory, building control wont look at it -it is an exempt structure and cant be made compliant. Thats assuming it is thermally separate from the house in which case it will need regs, but that will open a can of worms so keep it exempt, unless you want foundations tested, heat loss calculations, cavity trays etc etc.........
 
Yes I will keep it complaint, it is a detached property so will not project more than 4m.
The Conservatory has French doors to enter and has safety glass all round.
The one double electric socket will be installed by a qualified electrician and I will get the relevant paperwork for that.
 
Yes I will keep it complaint, it is a detached property so will not project more than 4m

That is planning not building regs. By compliance you mean build to within permitted development rights, Im assuming you are building on the rear.
 
Yes the conservatory is going to the rear of the property.
If you are concerned with compliance to regulations, I would recommend you apply for a certificate of lawfulness -that way you get written confirmation your conservatory is permitted development. PD rules are confusing and some properties have rights removed.

Its far more important to comply with planning than fensa.
 
A conservatory doesnt need a FENSA certificate.

Not quite true I'm afraid. If it has heating which is connected to the main house heating and/or a door that seperates the main building from the conservatory that is NOT external quality then it will require certification or signing off
 
Not quite true I'm afraid. If it has heating which is connected to the main house heating and/or a door that seperates the main building from the conservatory that is NOT external quality then it will require certification or signing off

Yes, thanks for clarifying -I should have made that clear -I did point it out in post 5.

Of course in any event, a FENSA cert wont be applicable to a conservatory.

A conservatory that is not thermally separate will need full building regs, including a SAPS test as it will count as an extension with excess glazing.
 
Not quite true I'm afraid. If it has heating which is connected to the main house heating and/or a door that seperates the main building from the conservatory that is NOT external quality then it will require certification or signing off
But not by FENSA, they cant do that.
 
When I moved to this property 4 years ago the solicitor that dealt with the purchase asked the sellers daughter for all the FENSA certificates for the UPVC windows and doors that had been installed over the years.
As they were fitted at different times and by different companies she could not get some of the certificates.

I liked the property so went on with the purchase.

I am thinking of installing a second hand UPVC conservatory and it will not come with a FENSA ceritificate.
Just wondering if it would put you off purchasing a property if the previous owner did not have all the FENSA certificates for any UPVC installations?
Don't get hung up on a bit of paper. All FENSA (and other approved contractor schemes) require the work to be registered with the council. So there is always a record there.
 
When selling a Property in which I installed 9 PVCu Windows & 1 Door , I didn’t have a Fensa Certificate , I just paid for an Indemnity policy which covered the Windows / Doors plus an Extension built maybe 5 or 6 years ago by others ..... it cost me £15 for the Policy .
 

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