What is a CERTASS certified installer?
If you are getting new windows, doors, or a conservatory roof replacement, you may have come across the term "CERTASS certified installer" and wondered what it actually means. In short, it is a mark of competence that directly affects whether your installation is legally compliant, and it can save you both money and hassle.
What is CERTASS?
CERTASS is a government-authorised Competent Person Scheme for the installation of windows, doors, and certain building work including conservatory roof replacements. It is recognised by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government as an approved body that can certify compliance with the Building Regulations.
What does "Competent Person Scheme" mean?
Under Part L of the Building Regulations, certain types of work must comply with energy efficiency requirements. Replacing windows, fitting new doors, or converting a conservatory roof all fall into this category. Normally, this would mean arranging a building control inspection through your local authority.
A Competent Person Scheme changes that. It allows registered installers to self-certify that their work complies with the relevant regulations, without requiring a separate inspection from local authority building control. The installer takes responsibility for ensuring the work meets the standard, and the scheme monitors its members to make sure they do.
Why does it matter to you as a homeowner?
Using a CERTASS registered installer means the Building Regulations compliance certificate is handled as part of the installation. There is no need to separately arrange building control, and the certificate is lodged with the local authority on your behalf. This matters for several reasons:
- Legal compliance is included Your installation is certified as meeting Part L of the Building Regulations without any extra steps on your part.
- No additional fees You do not need to pay separately for a building control application or inspection.
- Peace of mind when selling When you come to sell your property, solicitors will ask for evidence that replacement windows, doors, or roof conversions were completed in compliance with Building Regulations. A CERTASS certificate provides exactly that.
- Quality assurance CERTASS monitors its registered installers, meaning there is an additional layer of accountability beyond your contract with the installer.
What happens if your installer is not registered?
If your installer is not registered with a Competent Person Scheme such as CERTASS, you would need to arrange a building control application separately, pay the associated fee, and have the work inspected by a building control officer. This adds cost, time, and coordination to the project.
If you skip this entirely, the work is technically non-compliant. This may not cause any immediate problems, but it can create serious difficulties when you try to sell the property. Conveyancing solicitors routinely check for Building Regulations compliance certificates, and the absence of one can delay or even derail a sale. You may end up needing to obtain retrospective approval or take out indemnity insurance, neither of which is ideal.
How to check an installer's registration
CERTASS maintains a public register on their website at certass.co.uk. You can search by company name or postcode to verify that an installer is currently registered before you commit to any work.
S.R.S Windows Ltd — CERTASS registration 12-1432
S.R.S Windows Ltd is a CERTASS certified installer, registration number 12-1432. We are based in Rainham, Gillingham, Kent ME8 7EG and cover the whole of Kent and Medway. Every window, door, and conservatory roof replacement we complete is self-certified under the scheme, with the compliance certificate lodged with your local authority as part of the job.
If you are considering a conservatory roof replacement, you may also find these pages helpful:
- Building Regulations for conservatory roof replacements A detailed look at the regulations that apply and how CERTASS certification fits in.
- Planning permission for conservatory roof replacements Whether you need planning permission and the permitted development rules that usually apply.
- Conservatory roof replacement cost What affects the price and what you can expect to pay.
- Is a conservatory roof replacement worth it? The practical benefits and whether it makes sense for your home.
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