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Original poster

Replacement windows and FENSA

17 replies

nancerama · 20/08/2012 22:08

Around 18 months ago we were burgled. The burglar(s) smashed their way in through the double glazing in the kitchen. On inspection, it transpired that before smashing the glass, they had first attempted to crowbar out the UPVC frames and had left all the windows at the rear of the house warped and damaged.

Our insurance company wouldn't allow us to make arrangements for the windows to be fixed - they insisted on arranging their own supplier to take care of everything.

Now we're selling our house, and it's transpired that we don't have FENSA certificates for the new windows. I didn't even know this was something we needed. Had I arranged my own repair, I would have researched the legalities around this. Because the insurance company insisted on doing everything I thought they would have ensured they had used a legitimate company and all paperwork was sorted. It seems not.

I'm bloody furious. It was bad enough having to sort all this out 18 months ago. Now I have to do battle with the insurers and the numpty window fitters AGAIN.

OP posts:
FishfingersAreOK · 20/08/2012 22:51

Sorry if you have already done this - but have you contacted Fensa themselves - they can provide coppies - go to their website, type in address and if they exist - voila.

Selks · 20/08/2012 22:55

Sorry to hijack, but what is FENSA? Am looking into having new windows put in myself.

Sorry to hear that you're in this situation OP, hope you get it resolved ok.

allnewtaketwo · 21/08/2012 06:52

What a pain OP. If you do t get anywhere on tracing the Fensa certificates, all us not lost. Your solicitor when selling the house can arrange for insurance instead to cover the new buyers if there are any problems, it's very cheap and you would pay it as part of the house sale. Good luck

allnewtaketwo · 21/08/2012 06:54

Selks of you have windows or patio doors installed you need to have it done by a Fensa certified fitter. Or I think the alternative is to have the fitting checked afterwards by the council

UnrequitedSkink · 21/08/2012 08:18

Allnew is right, contact Building Control Dept at your local council and they will send someone out to check that the job has been done in line with their regulations. There may be a charge though!

Original poster
nancerama · 21/08/2012 08:33

I've checked the FENSA website. The company that fitted the windows are FENSA registered, but they never bothered to certify the work on my house.

DH checked with the council. It will cost a couple of hundred pounds for the certificate for us as they also charge a fine for doing things retrospectively. Grrrrrrr.

I will tackle the insurance company and if I get nowhere I will see if our solicitor can organise an indemnity. That's got to be cheaper than £200.

OP posts:
allnewtaketwo · 21/08/2012 08:37

IIRC our indemnity (for the same thing) was under £20, so definitely cheaper than getting the council out at £200!

MKP1 · 21/08/2012 08:39

Also (having had a nightmare about this selling our last house) I think you will find you ONLY need FENSA if they completely replaced the windows and frames. If they just replaced the glass/fixed the frames you are fine. So it may be that they didn't need to register it as the work they did didn't need to be registered. Have you called the company and asked why it wasn't registered? If it needed to be registered and wasn;t then take it up with FENSA!

But yes, the way to go is a) local council building control guy or b) indemnity. Recommend indemnity though - the last thing (experience here) you want is to find out that it won't pass buildings regs and you have to fix it before you move! Particularly if your solicitor promises your (horrible) buyers a FENSA cert (which you can only get at the time the windows are fitted) and the horrible buyers won't accept a buildings reg cert of the same thing (because they were stupid and obnoxious). Bitter? Moi?

Original poster
nancerama · 21/08/2012 08:44

Everything had to be replaced - windows and frames. The burglar destroyed the back of the house, so we definitely need a certificate or indemnity.

I am so angry with our insurance company who outsourced to such a bunch of inept weasels. They had to come back 3 times to re do the work because it was such poor quality, and now this. I'd never be surprised if the survey brings up more issues with those windows.

OP posts:
allnewtaketwo · 21/08/2012 08:47

If the fitters were FENSA registered then you should definitely register a complaint with FENSA because surely in not registering the work they have breached the requirements of FENSA?

peppapigpants · 21/08/2012 09:39

All windows in my house were replaced by the previous owners. They didn't hand me any certificates when I bought it two years ago. I've sold it and have had to pay £55 for an insurance policy in case the new owners make a claim.

peppapigpants · 21/08/2012 09:43

Grrr...have just found on FENSA website that I can get a copy of the certificate for £12!! Why then has my solicitor asked me to pay £55 for an insurance policy? We complete TOMORROW...I have emailed him and asked if it is too late.

allnewtaketwo · 21/08/2012 09:43

Peppa shouldn't your solicitor have picked that up when you were buying the house?

Original poster
nancerama · 21/08/2012 09:59

Right, so I've phoned the window numpties. They of course gave me several numbers to phone and pushed me from pillar to post with no one taking responsibility. They tried to fob me off saying it wasn't their fault and that FENSA must have failed to register me. I pointed out that FENSA can only issue a certificate when they have been informed work has been done, and that they failed to inform FENSA. At that point they backed down and admitted that they fucked up. I'm waiting for a manager to call me back, which I fear will never materialise.

Next call will be to the insurance company, who will be footing the bill for my out of pocket expenses in sorting this out.

Next time I take out an insurance policy, I'm going to ask for a list of their approved suppliers. I'm never dealing with these fools again and won't do business with any company that does.

OP posts:
peppapigpants · 21/08/2012 10:32

My solicitor has responded that the insurance covers the central heating too, for which the previous owners also decided I didn't need any certificates Hmm.

Original poster
nancerama · 21/08/2012 10:38

peppa - I hope you're using a different solicitor to sell from the one you bought through. All this should have been sorted out by your solicitor when you bought. I'm feeling your pain.

OP posts:
peppapigpants · 21/08/2012 11:47

I am, and they have been really good. However, the part exchange with the builders of the new house has been far from 'hassle-free', despite their claims, unfortunately.

nancerama, hope you get your drama sorted.

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