Trickle Vents - No FENSA

generationgav

We've just had double glazing fitted to our new house (built 15 years ago) replacing existing double glazing with wooden frames which were rotting.

It's a small independent fitting company we've gone with off local recommendations - they've been brilliant. The quality of the work we have no complaints about.

However, they had their annual FENSA check on our property and failed! The reason they failed is lack of trickle vents. They've offered to fit them for us, but have admitted they didn't fit them as one of the things we mentioned was noise, which will be worse with trickle vents and they don't believe they're necessary.

FENSA say it may cause damp not to have them, and they won't certify them without the vents.
Our window company have said it's completely up to us, but they don't believe we'll get damp, are happy to fit the vents afterwards if we do (but we still wouldn't get the certificate) and they suggest we leave it.

I don't see this as our "forever home" but I see us being there for years, it's not a renovation and sell type thing.

It's a 15 year old house, with Thermalite insulation and no air bricks that I'm aware of.

I've read lots and know there's a lot of opinions, but wondering what people here suggest.

Kernel_Sanders

generationgav wrote: »

replacing existing double glazing with wooden frames which were rotting.

You've got this the wrong way round (I hope:))

I have vents in an opening window; pointless IMHO, as they are not thermally efficient even when shut. Unless Building Control are involved, this will only be an issue when you come to sell. Even then, the buyers might not insist you rectify the 'problem'.
Why are your wooden windows rotten after just 15 years?

EssexExile

If you didn't have damp before without them you won't get it now without them.

I hate trickle vents.

Gordon_Hose

Cause damp, what a load of bo**ocks.

generationgav

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

You've got this the wrong way round (I hope:))

I have vents in an opening window; pointless IMHO, as they are not thermally efficient even when shut. Unless Building Control are involved, this will only be an issue when you come to sell. Even then, the buyers might not insist you rectify the 'problem'.
Why are your wooden windows rotten after just 15 years?

Ha - yes! Wrong way around. A very good guess would say when build the builders used the cheapest wooden frames they could get, not very well painted and never touched since. The survey actually said "Shows sign of starting to rot" in reality they weren't bad enough that we could have had them stripped back, treated and painted, but better (and nicer) just to replace them I thought.

EssexExile wrote: »

If you didn't have damp before without them you won't get it now without them.

I hate trickle vents.

We did have trickle vents before, but they were less trickle vents and more just holes in the frames with a plastic trim (you could put your little finger all the way through. But I think I agree, with a bit of sensibleness we shouldn't get damp.

arbrighton

They've just taken them back out of being a building regs requirement, between our works starting and finishing.
And if you are replacing existing windows, they weren't required anyway- which is why we now have a mixture of windows with and windows without.


And we just went from PVC to wood!

arbrighton

oopos, should have read everything, I see existing did have trickle vents, sorry

penguine

If you sell you will probably be asked to show the FENSA certificate.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2661519

EssexExile

penguine wrote: »

If you sell you will probably be asked to show the FENSA certificate.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2661519

Well that'll cheer up the OP as he's not getting one! It's no great problem, I've bought & sold several houses & never seen a FENSA certificate or been asked for one.

generationgav

EssexExile wrote: »

Well that'll cheer up the OP as he's not getting one! It's no great problem, I've bought & sold several houses & never seen a FENSA certificate or been asked for one.

After 12 months we can just take out indemnity insurance, before that might be an issue but we are NOT aiming or likely to sell within 12 months. So I'm pretty happy from a selling point of view. If it gets desperate then I could pay for buildings sign off from the local council (£110) - I'm more concerned if there's a physical need to have the vents.

penguine

EssexExile wrote: »

Well that'll cheer up the OP as he's not getting one! It's no great problem, I've bought & sold several houses & never seen a FENSA certificate or been asked for one.

It depends on the age of the windows though. If the OP goes on to sell in the next few years they will be asked if they've replaced the windows, then to produce the certificate.

To the OP I think you need to ask the installer to replace the windows in question. They should have known the FENSA requirements and made sure they were meeting them, that's why they're registered. I can see why they're recommending you not worry about it though, if you insist they replace the windows that should be at their cost so they'll lose money.

If you have a complaint you can go to FENSA direct. It doesn't matter how nice the company is, you're the one who'll have to deal with any problems down the line if you want to sell up.