What is Certass? for windows in hinckley

What is Certass?  http://www.certass.co.uk/homeowners

http://www.trustmark.org.uk  http://maimprove.co.uk/upvc-windows/

Certass, icensed in 2006, is a not for profit government approved Competent Person Scheme.

Competent Person Schemes were set up by the government to provide an alternative to submitting a building notice or using an approved Local Authority inspector for certain home improvements and building works. Since 1st April 2002, all replacement window and door installations must be certificated and there are two ways of achieving this.

All Certass registered contractors are vetted to ensure they are qualified to carry out the replacement of windows and doors in accordance with the current building regulations and, once an installation is complete, Certass provides you with the Building Regulation Compliance Certificate for the work carried out.

Alternatively, notification and approval of the completed work can be sought from your Local Authority’s Building Control department directly. This can cost in excess of £250.

The Building Regulation Compliance Certificate is your proof of compliance with building regulations and will be required by your solicitor should you wish to sell your property. If you’ve lost your certificate, either you or your solicitor can contact Certass directly and a replacement will be issued, there is a small charge of £10 including VAT for replacement certificates.

By using a Certass registered contractor you’ll get:

• Protection of deposit taken – in line with the insurance company’s policy wording
• A 10 year guarantee covering completed window and door installations
• At a minimum, an offer of an insurance policy to cover the 10 year guarantee, should the certass registered contractor cease to trade
• An easy way of registering your replacement windows and doors with your Local Authority at no cost to you

The Building Regulations 2010 (as amended) are a set of mandatory functional requirements established in law to protect the health, safety, welfare and convenience of building users and people who might be affected by buildings or matters connected with buildings. They also define the thermal performance of buildings and building works.

The Building Regulations are not concerned with aesthetics (what the installations looks like) or the quality of the installation so long as it does not adversely affect the thermal performance or the health, safety, welfare and convenience of building users and the general public.

Therefore poor finishing of an installation such as untidy sealant, large trims or uneven finishes although not satisfactory to a householder may well not breach the building regulations. Such issues are likely to be contractual issues that should be taken up with the installer at the time of the installation.

TrustMark approved tradesmen: key benefits

What is TrustMark

TrustMark is a quality mark which operates a framework under which 30 plus scheme operators work in the RMI (repair, maintenance and improvement) sector, including trade associations, local government trading standards teams, and independent scheme operators. These schemes are approved to carry the TrustMark logo and recruit reputable and trustworthy tradesmen. This enables the TrustMark scheme operators to promote improved RMI sector standards, and tackle related issues such as better enforcement. All of these scheme operators are audited annually by TrustMark, to ensure processes, standards and complaint procedures are being maintained.

What makes selecting TrustMark tradesmen so worthwhile?

1. A firm’s technical skills have been independently checked through regular on-site inspections, as well as checks on their trading record and financial status;
2. Firms have signed up to a code of practice that includes insurance, good health and safety practices and customer care;
3. The approved scheme operator has checked and will continue to monitor the firm’s quality of work, trading practices and customer satisfaction;
4. Firms are able to offer an Insurance Backed Warranty;
5. Deposit Protection Insurance is available for consumers in the event a firm should cease trading;
6. Firms will be able to tell you about any building regulations you must comply with and may also be able to provide appropriate certificates;
7. If you have a problem or disagreement with the firm, there will be a clear and user-friendly complaints procedure to help resolve the issue;
8. The scheme is fully supported by Government, the building industry and consumer protection groups.
9. All of these checks will give you - Peace of Mind

If a firm displays our TrustMark logo you know that we have approved and inspected the firm through one of our scheme operators and found that the firm meets the required Government endorsed criteria as described above. Find out more on how to avoid rogue traders.

Important Note:

When employing a TrustMark tradesman always check they are ‘licensed’ for all the trades / work you are asking them to carry out. This can be done by looking on our website by searching under the ‘trade’ then ‘their company name’ and finally ’more information’ – you will then see a list of the ‘only’ trades that the firm is licensed for under the protection and standards offered by TrustMark.