regularisation certificate instead of FENSA

ClaudiaC_3

we had a roof window installed in 2003 and we did it ourselves (bought at B&Q or similar, DIY job, they come with instructions on how to fit them) and we were told we needed a FENSA certificate to sell our house.
I rung the council to ask about this as someone said that depending on the size we may not need anything, and they told me I needed some inspection from Building Control to check it was done properly so they could issue a regularisation certificate.

They charged me £145, I had to send the cheque with the form.

Today the inspector turned up, he glanced (honestly) at the roof window and said it was al OK :shocked: - he didn't check anything at all, didn't even open the window.
He siad that all he needed to check was that it had the right type of glass.
£145 to see the glass? I think it is a robbery.

Can I complain and who to??? I could have sent them the window receipt so they could check what type of glass was looking at the model.
:mad::mad::mad::mad:

I am furious with myself for ringing the council, as the buyers' solicitors haven't even requested to see the FENSA certificate, but I though they would at the time.

Doozergirl

Appreciate it's a lot for one window but that's how much it costs. Whether it's one window or many.

They don't do discounts.

ClaudiaC_3

Thanks for answering and I appreciate what you said, although I wasn't complaining that it was for the ONE window. I think it is a hell of a lot to charge for coming in and just GLANCE (and I repeat, G L A N C E!) at the window.

I expected them to carefully check the structure around the window, to make sure that it was put in safely and that there was no danger that the windown and the roof could suddenly collapse and come down and endanger the people sitting at the dining table underneath ... so I was a tiny bit surprised when all he did was simply look at it. Didn't even climb up on a chair to look at the window a bit closer ...

I wonder how they got to that price, how is it broken down?!

Maybe it's just me who thinks it is a robbery as I have never had to do this before ... ?!

In all the other posts I read about getting regularisation people mentioned paying around £60/70, not sure who decides these prices.

lincroft1710

It'll be a standard charge and welcome to the world of "We're your local council and if we can't screw more council tax out of you, we'll find other ways.com".

£145 is a lot of money if you haven't got it, but buying/selling houses always costs more money than you budget for. At end of day if it gets sale progressed it's money well spent.

Doozergirl

ClaudiaC wrote: »

In all the other posts I read about getting regularisation people mentioned paying around £60/70, not sure who decides these prices.

Being relatively au fait with Building Control, I can't say I've ever paid as little as £60-70 for any service. Fact is I've paid out ten times what you have for four visits for them to have a glance at what we've done.

the lesson I think was in waiting to see what your options were first, or using a FENSA registere fitter in the first place. Perhaps sticking one window in (and then declaring it ) isn't the best way to go.

Richard_Webster

A Building Regulation Indemnity Policy is unlikely to have cost as much as £145 and would probably have been acceptable tot he buyer's solicitors.

FilthyLuka

As its i a dining room rather than in a loft space I assume its all plastered over since 2003

Look at it this way, the thread could have been titled 'Council force me to rip open ceiling' - yes, you could have been asked to open up the roof construction so that the roof timbers could be inspected along with the insulation provided to any vertical walls. If they then found things incorrect they could refuse to give a certificate at all.

Every cloud etc etc etc..............

tbs624

Doozergirl wrote: »

Being relatively au fait with Building Control, I can't say I've ever paid as little as £60-70 for any service. Fact is I've paid out ten times what you have for four visits for them to have a glance at what we've done.

Paid £70 for BC certificate to sign off non FENSA reg'd windows in a property we purchased approx 3 years ago

silvercar

FilthyLuka wrote: »

As its i a dining room rather than in a loft space I assume its all plastered over since 2003

Look at it this way, the thread could have been titled 'Council force me to rip open ceiling' - yes, you could have been asked to open up the roof construction so that the roof timbers could be inspected along with the insulation provided to any vertical walls. If they then found things incorrect they could refuse to give a certificate at all.

Every cloud etc etc etc..............

Its only the window that needed the certificate not the roof!

On roofs:

Different councils have different policies. In my area, building regs certificate is required for a replacement roof but repairs don't require certification. I have one roof that has just been [STRIKE]replaced[/STRIKE] repaired in two sections, one half one day, one the next; two separate invoices. Saved about £120.

FilthyLuka

The roof would probably need inspecting because of the trimming needed to fit the velux (unless it fits within the c/c of the rafters - which is commonly 400mm - a very narrow velux)

FENSA only cover replacement windows, not new openings formed for new windows in walls or roofs

silvercar

FilthyLuka wrote: »

The roof would probably need inspecting because of the trimming needed to fit the velux (unless it fits within the c/c of the rafters - which is commonly 400mm - a very narrow velux)

FENSA only cover replacement windows, not new openings formed for new windows in walls or roofs

Clearly not in this case.

ClaudiaC wrote: »

we were told we needed a FENSA certificate to sell our house.

ClaudiaC wrote: »

Today the inspector turned up, he glanced (honestly) at the roof window and said it was al OK :shocked: - he didn't check anything at all, didn't even open the window.
He siad that all he needed to check was that it had the right type of glass.

Inspectors are very interested in the correct use of safety glass, where appropriate.