FENSA certificate for windows. can only get a CERTASS one. Is this dodgy?

[Briony32]

ie: will I have problems when I come to sell the house? The double glazing company I am thinking of using don't do FENSA certificates as they are too expensive, but do CERTASS certificates instead. CERTASS, I believe, is a self certification for glazing.

This company's quote is £2000 cheaper than other companies I've had round. I am having 10 windows done.

Also, they are not a Limited company but a sole trader.

Should alarm bells be ringing? Whenever we speak to them, they seem perfectly legitimate and come back with sensible answers though.

I have looked on check a trade but can't find anything.

By the way, may aswell tell you...they are called DW2U (Direct Windows 2 U).

Has anyone got any experience/ wisdom before I give my money away?

Thanks.

I don't have any advice, but was also wondering how important fensa certificates are. We had one window replaced three years ago and don't have a certificate and our buyers solicitor is querying why not. It's just been lost, I probably didn't think I would ever need it again. I was wondering what the solicitor would do about it?

I've never heard of Certass but perhaps the easiest thing to do would be to phone your local building regs department and see if they consider Certass to be an acceptable guarantee.

lucy - you can get copies from FENSA, there may be a small charge. The solicitor will consider the window "illegal" without it.

You can order a replacement FENSA certificate off their website, I think, but may find that you have to pay for indemnity insurance if you don't have FENSA, because they may be poorer quality windows.

Not absolutely essential to have FENSA ,if you have details of glazing installed you can buy indemnity insurance. It does not mean the windows are poorer quality if they meet current building regulations

I have never been asked for a fensa certificate. I just kept the reciept/guarantee for the windows.

I thought certass was simply a FENSA equivilant i.e. the same thing. We inherited certass certified windows in our first house. Solicitors and mortgage companies happy. No need for separate indemnity insurance at all.

I think FENSA is just a brand which has been around longer.

Certass is the same as Fensa - both are competent person self certification schemes. Fensa is better known but they both mean that you don't need a separate BRegs inspection.
Make sure you have certificates or can get copies but otherwise you don't need further info or indemnity

Having just moved house I now guard all FENSA certificates very carefully. I was amazed at how much importance the solicitors put on them (luckily I found them...).

You can buy copies though.

Thanks everyone.

And thanks for answering my question (sorry for hijacking!). I ordered replacement Fensa certificates last night and the solicitor phoned today to ask me to pay for them through her. But thanks to you, I was one step ahead and had done it already.

Hi Briony32,

Did you do your windows through DW2U finally?Did it all go well?They have been getting in touch with me recently.Can you please let me know if I can proceed with them ? -Vidya

CERTASS and FENSA are both valid competent person schemes within the fenestration sector. FENSA has been around longer and is better known and has a larger membership, but provided your installer can give you a CERTASS certificate for any replacement windows and doors you have put in - this will be sufficient and will not create problems when you move house.

If you google you'll see that FENSA isn't the only windows org that can certify now. I had similar thoughts with our new windows as they're CERTASS but a browse of the net showed me things have moved on and the list of accredited bodies has expanded. We have good windows too, so it's not nec related to non-FENSA = cheaper.

Hi Mums -Please advise of any suggestions
I have a problem with my double glazer. we had our windows/doors survey done and the dates finialized for fitting.On the day,the work was to to commence,the fitters suspected some asbestos to be present in the external wall cladding outside the house facing the road and abruptly stopped the work. when asked that subjected to a satisfactory survey report was only then the goods were ordered to be fitted,they have no answer irresponsibly saying the surveyor might have missed it. please advise me what I should do now as I have paid the total cost for the goods and installation upfront.

Hi There, was wondering if you ended up using this company as I got a good quote form them and am interested in using them.