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No FENSA cert for velux window
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Sold 3.5 houses in past few years. No fensa certs for any of them1
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As far as I remember, the last time I sold my house, I didn't have to account for how old all the windows have been in. No requests fir certificates in my recollection.
With that in mind I would just say there is no certificate and invite buyers to proceed.0 -
Homebuyer278 said:I am more than willing to pay for an indemnity. am I able to get an indemnity as it’s on 5 months since it’s been installed?
The reason for the 12 months was that the council couldn't issue an enforcement notice after that, except with a High court order which had no time limit. The chance of a council going to court for a window was virtually zero, but technically possible, so lenders usually insist on indemnity policies for notifiable work done without being signed off.
As FreeBear stated, the one year rule is now ten.0 -
The minimum period for indemnity policies is generally more to ensure that "the dust has settled", on the assumption that any aggrieved parties (or those with statutory power to enforce) will do so sooner rather than later (whether or not they may strictly speaking be still able to do so later - if they can't, then no need for a policy anyway). Your solicitor may be able to find a suitable policy - but unless there's a suggestion that the window is blatantly contrary to building regs, I can't see there being any risk worth worrying about.0
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This should not be a deal-breaker, tho' that largely comes down to the buyer, and how nervous/cautious they are. It shouldn't matter for things like mortgages - surveyors will look for obvious structural/constructional issues around the house, but the cert of a particular window shouldn't be part of it.
As a buyer, my concern would be that it was installed correctly, mainly to do with the flashings that make it watertight, but also if it was a wide enough window to have required a rafter to be cut and modified; if so, was that done correctly, and do you have any evidence? If you do, I'd be happy.
So, who was the contractor? Are they reputable? Can they confirm - ideally in writing - that it was done correctly? If so, then I'd have no concerns as a buyer, and the lack of Fensa not a problem.
I would have reservations in approaching the LA for a retro conformity cert, as what would they need to do to confirm it was done correctly? Rip away the surrounding p'board to expose the rafters? Lift a slate or two to check the flashing pieces? All very destructive, and you would - of course - have highlighted to them the fact it wasn't certified, so no chance of an indemnity policy.
So, I'd (a) try and get some written conformation from the contractor that it was installed according to Building Regs 'requirements/standards' - all structural alterations were correct - and (b) offer an indemnity policy to cover the remote possibility that it wasn't. Ie, if your roof sags as a result of a bodge job, they can claim.
Or, quite possibly, if you can tell them "it was installed by this reputable local contractor - here's their invoice for the job", most folk would/should be happy.
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It's generally the lender that it matters to. Their guidelines are that they won't lend without an indemnity policy. It can spook some buyers of they think the house has had uncertified work done on it.0
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