Seller has lied on property info form...? Windows

[catatemymind]

Hello,

Am due to complete on a house next week. Documents have only just come through from the solicitor. On the property information form, the seller has ticked no to the question asking if any windows etc had been put in before 2002, which would mean they did not need a FENSA certificate or equivalent. There is no FENSA as I have looked this up myself.

However, all the windows in the back of the house are new! With stickers on giving a date in 2019!

Not sure how to proceed, I really am desperate for this to work out!

Have they replaced frame or just glass if just glass don't need fensa

Beaniecats I am assuming frame and glass as there are stickers on all the frames.

you can ask the seller to take out indemnity insurance against this. Ive just been dealing with a similar issue where our freeholder has not ensured proper building regs approval for some skylights nor is there a FENSA cert and my neighbour is having to take out indemnity insurance for the sale to go through. Its not expensive. Otherwise you need to get building control in the council to inspect and approve. That costs as well. I'd go back to your solicitor.

I wouldnt leave it as it will affect you selling unless you also lie on your legal pack!

I haven't read the full thread, but in our old house we turned the old brick shed into a utility at the end of the house. When we sold it, we needed retrospective planning permission, but hadn't realised it would take weeks so we were told to buy an indemnity insurance. It cost about £130 and took few hours to sort. It's quite common.xx

Say nothing, take the stickers off quickly.

lockeddown I did think about that but I know I'd find some way of fretting about it.

To be honest, I’d be thrilled that there were newish windows you hadn’t expected.
As long as the frames are secure, everything is properly sealed and the mechanisms work as they should, it’s of no consequence. The difference between new windows and 10+ year old ones is astonishing.
The only really important things are

1. The condition of the roof.
2. The boiler - you need an up to date service and ideally a gas safety certificate.
3. The Electrical circuits, especially in a pre 1990’s house or if there are random cables around to indicate dodgy diy work. A full electrical report is £150ish.

Gender agreed, it was a nice surprise until I found out about this FENSA nonsense! The other things are sorted, it's just tying up all these funny loose ends. As I've mentioned, I'm not so bothered for myself as the windows seem decent, it's just more not wanting an issue when I come to sell because the windows don't have something to show they comply with building regs.

I’d proceed with caution and you might have a headache when it comes to sell if you don’t have all the necessary certification.

When you come to sell, take the stickers off and say the same as they’ve said. It’s not a big deal!

Are people here serious? I have just asked my dad who has sold ten houses in the last five years And he has never been asked about certificates for windows!

This is a small terrace house with maybe six windows? We are talking about planning permission for a double story extension here😂.

I will be selling my house in a few months, no idea where the window certificates are, don’t ever think I had them. It wasn’t an issue when I bought and I won’t be tolerating any nonsense over low level stuff when I sell.

We couldn't find the Fensa certificate for some windows in a property we were selling. Solicitor offered £16 to arrange indemnity insurance. In the end we requested a copy from the installer but you can get it online from FENSA quite easily for a small charge if it was issued previously.

Meh. We replaced windows about 4/5 years ago and the company didn’t supply FENSA certificates. When I chased them up on some paperwork some months later they’d closed down (bereavement in the owner’s family meant they decided to close, not that they were crap! Small town, they were well known). Not at all worried about when we come to sell (and I probably wouldn’t even think to worry about certificates on the next place we buy).

If you’re worried just ask for an indemnity, it’s not a big deal.

Fensa certificates much like NHBC certs for new builds are not worth the paper they are written on, they only cover the frame and installation, sealed units (the glass) is only covered for 4 years, unless they are physically falling out or in very poor condition it’s definitely not worth worrying about the certificate or when they were fitted and most buyers don’t even ask about windows unless they see an obvious problem

Just another example of the petty bureaucracy that has developed to clog up, and, slow down the housing market (EPC's are another). I bought my first house (£1,250) in three days, forty-nine years ago. I have just begun the process of selling my latest, and amazed at the list of inane questions, I've been required to answer eg. my National Insurance number, wtf !

Who benefits from this increase in box-ticking and form filling ? Solicitors, conveyancers, and estate agents - for whom it provides justification for delay and high charges.

Most people who buy houses don’t bother about half the stuff you read on here, if you fart in a house people on m,net will say you need a surveyor/ building regs to make sure it’s legal 😀

I agree! Tbh I'm so desperate just to get it done now, it's been 4 months of chasing.

You could check (or get vendors to check) if there's a set of numbers and letters stamped in the frame between the two layers of glass.
If part of this letter/number info contains EN1279 then that shows they are the required standard. You could also use this information going forward when you come to sell the house.
Who knew windows could cause such problems!

Sorry, forgot picture

Player thanks!! What a useful piece of info, I will check that . I think FENSA is also to check they've been fitted properly..? But if they haven't fallen out by the time I sell in many years time then I'll take that as a yes.

Player I have pictures of the stickers and they do have that number on, great stuff! Thanks for the tip.

Maybe get a window fitter round to do a driveby check if you’re worried but I don’t think it’s a big deal. You will replace old windows eventually anyway.

I am a foster carer do would need paperwork for Windows as they check all paperwork for H&S with a fine tooth comb. You could ask for them to get it certified before you proceed.