Buying a bungalow, recently renovated but no FENSA

gsusx

Hi there,
Was wondering if anyone could help.  I’m at the very final stages of buying a house.  It’s been recently renovated by the seller completely and has had a rear extension and also a loft conversion with a dormer.  Anyway the windows are all brand new and have been recently installed but were installed by the seller (they have provided the receipts for them)

I have a final certification from the building regs for the extension and the dormer however the seller has stated there is no FENSA because he did the install himself.

Should I be overly concerned, should i be pressurising them to get a FENSA, is this going to affect me long term, really appreciate any guidance anyone can give me here.  Thanks all 

NameUnavailable

No Fensa certificate? Here’s how to get a Fensa certificate retrospectively

If you don’t have a FENSA certificate you have two options available:

1. You can apply to your local authority for a ‘Retrospective Building Regulation Compliance Certificate’. This route can take time and costs between £300 – £400.

2. You can take out double glazing building regulations indemnity insurance, as long as the work was completed more than a year ago.

Doozergirl

If this was a major renovation then the windows would be covered by the building control certificate for the whole job.  

Fensa is a self-certification scheme that shows that the installation meets building regs.  It isn't separate, nor does it usurp building control. A Fensa certificate would be an extra cost and the windows wouldn't even be inspected.  

Ignore the advice above.  The windows will be covered.  There's no way they won't be as the BCO will have inspected them on site whether they were asked to or not! 

The only time you'd really expect to see a Fensa or Certass certificate is where the replacement windows are the only thing happening.  

All you ever see on a building control completion certificate is the one line heading that the applicant puts down.  As a result of this forum(!) I always make that description as long as I can, but not many builders would be aware of that - in the same way that solicitors often aren't aware of what I've just told you 😉
 

Splatfoot

We have a Fensa certificate for our downstairs windows. But when our buyers had a survey, in speaking to the surveyor, he mentioned that all the windows were installed incorrectly. So, the certificate is rubbish.

Tiglet2

I agree with Doozergirl above.  We had a major renovation a few years ago and we hold a building control certificate for the whole job.  Our windows were all changed but I don't hold a FENSA certificate for them because they come under building control.  

gsusx

Doozergirl said:

If this was a major renovation then the windows would be covered by the building control certificate for the whole job.  

Fensa is a self-certification scheme that shows that the installation meets building regs.  It isn't separate, nor does it usurp building control. A Fensa certificate would be an extra cost and the windows wouldn't even be inspected.  

Ignore the advice above.  The windows will be covered.  There's no way they won't be as the BCO will have inspected them on site whether they were asked to or not! 

The only time you'd really expect to see a Fensa or Certass certificate is where the replacement windows are the only thing happening.  

All you ever see on a building control completion certificate is the one line heading that the applicant puts down.  As a result of this forum(!) I always make that description as long as I can, but not many builders would be aware of that - in the same way that solicitors often aren't aware of what I've just told you 😉
 

Hi There

This is great advice thank you, I really appreciate this, can I ask though, without it, I would still be ok to buy the house right ?

FreeBear

You've had a full survey carried out (not a basic home buyers one), yes ?

If the survey has not highlighted any issues, and your solicitor is satisfied the paperwork is in order, I don't see a reason to pull out.

Plenty of people will "do their own work", often to a more exacting standard than some builders - As long as the work has been signed off by Building Control, it should be OK.

homersimpson246

As long as the  basics are right then it wouldn't worry me.  The main things are that the glass is toughened if it is at low level (I forget what the height is but basically fully glazed doors) and that the windows in bedrooms particualy open wide enough to escape in the event of a fire.

Doozergirl

homersimpson246 said:

As long as the  basics are right then it wouldn't worry me.  The main things are that the glass is toughened if it is at low level (I forget what the height is but basically fully glazed doors) and that the windows in bedrooms particualy open wide enough to escape in the event of a fire.

They don't have to be wide enough to escape if they're replacements and the previous windows weren't. 😕
 

I think it's absurd.  All windows should be escape windows where it's reasonably possible, and that should be the aim
when fitting replacements.   Building Control should expect them to be 'upgraded'.  

silvercar

Doozergirl said:

homersimpson246 said:

As long as the  basics are right then it wouldn't worry me.  The main things are that the glass is toughened if it is at low level (I forget what the height is but basically fully glazed doors) and that the windows in bedrooms particualy open wide enough to escape in the event of a fire.

They don't have to be wide enough to escape if they're replacements and the previous windows weren't. 😕
 

I think it's absurd.  All windows should be escape windows where it's reasonably possible, and that should be the aim
when fitting replacements.   Building Control should expect them to be 'upgraded'.  

It may be absurd from a safety point of view, but it could leave people unable to upgrade their windows in an affordable way. 
We have a bay window in 4 sections, each section wouldn't meet current regulations for new windows but have openers larger than the previous windows. The alternative is to remain with draughty windows.

Doozergirl

silvercar said:

Doozergirl said:

homersimpson246 said:

As long as the  basics are right then it wouldn't worry me.  The main things are that the glass is toughened if it is at low level (I forget what the height is but basically fully glazed doors) and that the windows in bedrooms particualy open wide enough to escape in the event of a fire.

They don't have to be wide enough to escape if they're replacements and the previous windows weren't. 😕
 

I think it's absurd.  All windows should be escape windows where it's reasonably possible, and that should be the aim
when fitting replacements.   Building Control should expect them to be 'upgraded'.  

It may be absurd from a safety point of view, but it could leave people unable to upgrade their windows in an affordable way. 
We have a bay window in 4 sections, each section wouldn't meet current regulations for new windows but have openers larger than the previous windows. The alternative is to remain with draughty windows.

That's exactly why I said "where it's reasonably possible".