Window issues

alfienaokes

Hello

We bought some alu windows and doors from a window manufacturer. After we bought them they said they were too busy in install themselves so put us in touch with their recommended installers.
Over a year or so, we noticed some issues - doors catching/dropping and not closing properly, the trickle vents are too close to the ceiling so will not open, one bay window in particular let in water and upon closer inspection it is wonky, a broken latch on a door, neither the manufacturer or the installer offering a FENSA certificate - each saying it is the other's responsibility; two windows clouding over.
We have complained to the manufacturer again (we brought some of these things up over a year ago and were ignored) and they say it is all down to the installer. The manufacturer did do the surveys as well so made the doors and windows to fit.

Any ideas who to take this us with legally? Do we approach both parties? Who should provide a FENSA certificate?

many thanks

user1977

Sounds potentially like a mixture of manufacturing and installation defects? e.g. is the "wonky" bay window because it was installed squint or something to do with the window manufacture?

FENSA partly depends on where they're installed so I think an installer reponsibility.

DullGreyGuy

alfienaokes said:

We bought some alu windows and doors from a window manufacturer. After we bought them they said they were too busy in install themselves so put us in touch with their recommended installers.
Over a year or so, we noticed some issues - doors catching/dropping and not closing properly, the trickle vents are too close to the ceiling so will not open, one bay window in particular let in water and upon closer inspection it is wonky, a broken latch on a door, neither the manufacturer or the installer offering a FENSA certificate - each saying it is the other's responsibility; two windows clouding over.
We have complained to the manufacturer again (we brought some of these things up over a year ago and were ignored) and they say it is all down to the installer. The manufacturer did do the surveys as well so made the doors and windows to fit.

Any ideas who to take this us with legally? Do we approach both parties? Who should provide a FENSA certificate?

Who selected the windows for the ones too close to the ceiling? Were the window openings changed in the process? There's not normally much choice for a fitter if you're replacing like for like. 

As you have a contract for supply from one company and a contract for fitting from the other you will need to pursue the company depending on if the issue is fitting or product related. If you simply chose the wrong product then thats on you. 

UnsureAboutthis

My understanding is the installer supplies the FENSA cert IIRC.  

Re the vents "too close to" brick etc - in some case they are and we refused to have them as they look ugly - the person that did the quote told us it was a requirement becuse of "building regs" IIRC but when i said we won't go ahead they agreed - this was a just over 10 yrs ago.

Call FENSA and see what they say but first check if the installer is registered with FENSA

Call FENSA for advice, they are helpful, they were to me.

Alderbank

alfienaokes said:

Any ideas who to take this us with legally? Do we approach both parties? Who should provide a FENSA certificate?

Who provides a FENSA certificate? FENSA produce the FENSA certificate!

If the installer is a member of FENSA they send a form to FENSA describing the work they have carried out. If FENSA agree that the job is fully compliant with current building standards they issue a certificate. This means that even if the installer closes down you can at any time apply directly to FENSA for a copy of your certificate. (£25 I think). You can even check online with your address to see whether FENSA have issued a certificate for your windows.

FENSA cert is not a legal requirement; they are just one of several commercial companies who issue a certificate of compliance with the building regs. It is only the compliance, not the cert, which is required by law but a cert is useful to prove this.
Other companies offer similar schemes, in England they include Certass and Assure. If FENSA have no record of your installation it could be because the installer was a member of another scheme.
Here in Scotland, no windows are certified by FENSA because FENSA doesn't operate north of the border. All  installers up here use Certass.

Keep_pedalling

Did you pay the installer directly or via the supplier?

Arunmor

So you had a supply and fit contract with the manufacturer, who then ducked the fit part of the contract.

And now they leave you in limbo, wonder how often they do that!

UnsureAboutthis

Alderbank said:

alfienaokes said:

Any ideas who to take this us with legally? Do we approach both parties? Who should provide a FENSA certificate?

Who provides a FENSA certificate? FENSA produce the FENSA certificate!

If the installer is a member of FENSA they send a form to FENSA describing the work they have carried out. If FENSA agree that the job is fully compliant with current building standards they issue a certificate. This means that even if the installer closes down you can at any time apply directly to FENSA for a copy of your certificate. (£25 I think). You can even check online with your address to see whether FENSA have issued a certificate for your windows.

FENSA cert is not a legal requirement; they are just one of several commercial companies who issue a certificate of compliance with the building regs. It is only the compliance, not the cert, which is required by law but a cert is useful to prove this.
Other companies offer similar schemes, in England they include Certass and Assure. If FENSA have no record of your installation it could be because the installer was a member of another scheme.
Here in Scotland, no windows are certified by FENSA because FENSA doesn't operate north of the border. All  installers up here use Certass.

And this is why I strongly recommend people check with FENSA etc that the company making/installing the doors/windows is registered and o has an active registration.

To late for you OP, but I'd strongly recommend to anyone buying DG/doors etc to ensure the same company that makes/supplies the items fits them. This way there is less of a risk of one blaming the other and the customer is  stuck in the middle.

alfienaokes

Thanks for eveyone's answers so far. We paid the installer directly - so i think the issues are a mixture of poor installation and manufacture potentially based on the survey that the manufacturer did...