Selling: Velux but no FENSA

startled_cat

Hi.
I am in the process of selling my home. In the 13 years I have been here I have had new patio doors fitted downstairs, and a Velux window put into the upstairs bathroom. I have a FENSA certificate for the patio doors, but nothing for the Velux, I had a roofer install it whilst they re-roofed my garage for me. It was installed about 12 years ago.
What do I do, do I declare it, say nothing, or other. All advice appreciated thanks.

KL0001

Declare it, explain you don!!!8217;t have the certificate, an easy fix might be to get an indemnity insurance. I doubt the sale will fall through because of a velux without a FENSA certificate.

G_M

ruhe wrote: »

I wouldn't tell anybody as it's irrelevant and frankly quite meaningless. If you really want to just get the council building control department to "retrospectively" pass your windows and they will. I'd not say a word because it's as irrelevant to the sale of the house as is the value of being so called "Fensa" registered.

So you'd advise the OP leave the question blank on the PIF? Or lie?

startled_cat

I don't understand why the need FENSA stuff after 10 years, as thought it only covered the window for 10 years, or is it more to do with the planning side of things?

keithdc

ruhe wrote: »

If I were in the sellers position I'd either leave it blank or say words to the effect that the buyer should make their own enquiries

Either way the council won't charge much to pass it retrospectively, if it was mentioned I'd sell it without it being passed as I doubt they'd specifically require you to have it passed, I think they'd most likely use an indemnity policy in this situation

Declining to answer a question and requiring a buyer to make their own enquiries would quite rightly worry most buyers. If someone wrote that in relation to a house i was considering purchasing, i would not proceed until they had answered the question.

Honesty and transparency are such underrated concepts!

System

If it's one that didn't need to trim any roof rafters and fitted between existing structure then it wouldn't need regs anyway, you can get the reference number from the side of the window and it will give you all the technical information if needed

SG27

G_M wrote: »

So you'd advise the OP leave the question blank on the PIF? Or lie?

I would fill the form out honestly. So write in what you had done and tick the box that says "none" for documents and guarantees. However I wouldnt openly declare it to the buyers.

We had a some french doors installed in 2016 as its a listed building got the LBC permitted had the work done but never received a fensa certifiticate. (It didn't even cross our minds at the time that we should have got one.)

So we filled the PIF out ticked no for guarantees. Luckily for us our solicitor was really on the ball and informed us (before we had even had an offer accepted!) that it was missing.

We contacted the company and they had forgotten to issue it. They did it there and then but took about 6 weeks for Fensa to process.

As it turned out the sellers solicitor never asked for it anyway! We did inform the buyers when they came to measure up. They said they aren't bothered about the fensa certificate anyway. Which is same for us with the house we are buying they have no fensa for Windows installed in 2006. We dont care they are old and need replacing soon anyway.

The problem comes with the lenders. They will demand Fensa certificates even if your buyer is not bothered. So you will likely have to pay for an indemnity policy to keep the lender happy at least.

Doozergirl

the_r_sole wrote: »

If it's one that didn't need to trim any roof rafters and fitted between existing structure then it wouldn't need regs anyway, you can get the reference number from the side of the window and it will give you all the technical information if needed

The glazing would need regs, but as you say, a branded Velux is obviously going to be compliant.

SG27

Doozergirl wrote: »

The glazing would need regs, but as you say, a branded Velux is obviously going to be compliant.

But getting the council to come out and sign it off will cost and could take months. Better to just pay for the indemnity

Beenie

We had new windows and french doors (UPVC double glazed) installed about 15 yeas ago. I asked about a FENSA certificate at the time, but the installer said that the certificate related to him, his competence and his company's professional standards. In other words, the customer didn't need the certificate but the installer did.

It doesn't matter particularly as we aren't selling our house, but it is a bit worrisome if buyers and their lawyers are asking for such certificates.

We have a Velux window too, and no FENSA cert for that either!

SG27

Beenie wrote: »

We had new windows and french doors (UPVC double glazed) installed about 15 yeas ago. I asked about a FENSA certificate at the time, but the installer said that the certificate related to him, his competence and his company's professional standards. In other words, the customer didn't need the certificate but the installer did.

It doesn't matter particularly as we aren't selling our house, but it is a bit worrisome if buyers and their lawyers are asking for such certificates.

We have a Velux window too, and no FENSA cert for that either!

You can go to the fensa website and put your address in to see if was registered. It sounds like your installer was confused. They do have a crrtificate to show they are fensa registered but all work they do needs to reported to fensa who send the installation certificate directly to the homeowner.