FENSA for french doors, skylight replacement and new panes

[stevebamford]

Hi all,

Can anyone tell me if I need a FENSA certificate or building control for the following:

Its a victorian semi in a conservation area

1) Replace french patio doors - door frame not changed but new doors put into it

2) Replace old rotten skylight with new velux (may need to change the opening size)

3) Replace cracked panes of glass in sash windows

Thanks very much

Steve

 

[Richard C]

No for the French doors & sash windows as it's maintenence, maybe for the Velux window as your changin the size & replacing the frame; best check on that one!

 

[Screwed]

Hello,

Got a very similar issue so hope you don't mind me jumping in on this post. We're in the process of selling our converted Victorian flat in Lewisham. We live in a conservation area and I replaced our back door for French Windows in the existing frame back in 2004 using toughend single pane glass. Our buyers solicitor is now requesting we provide a FENSA certificate for this, until now I had never heard of FENSA nor the requirement of certification. As far as I can gather this is only required for double glazing, is this correct?

This was a simple DIY job due to the fact that the old door was rubbish, why on earth I now have to prove this was a FENSA certified installation I don't know!!!

Any help would be greatly appreciated as I'm fuming at the moment!!!

Cheers,

Mike.

 

[Richard C]

Hi Mike, life's becoming a beech for DIY work now. As far as I know the big change in regulations that made replacement windows/doors notifyable to LABC (Local Authority Building Control) came about in 2002 & any work done since then has to be covered by a FENSA certificate or have a Compliance Certificate issued by your LABC. More & more folks who’ve been busily doing notifyable work (not just windows but all manor of things) since around 2000 are going to get caught out by HIPS & solicitors questions when they come to sell; it’s a real PITA but that’s the way it’s going I’m afraid!

You won’t get retrospective FENSA or compliance certificate from your LABC because you’ve use single glazing which is no longer permitted due to energy conservation requirements. You could argue it’s maintenance as you’ve kept the original frame but the fact that you’ve made things worse (energy wise) means it’s unlikely you’ll get away with that one.

Choices:
1. Just say you haven’t got one & the buyer can do as they like; but this may also affect their mortgage on the property so they may walk.
2. I believe you can get an insurance indemnity but I’m not sure how this works, perhaps others will chip in; I’m also unsure if this will be possible as you’ve used single glazing!
3. Fit DG glass units to the door & try & get a LABC certificate; but it may still not be compliant so you may be wasting your time.
4. Bite the bullet & get the cheapest new door you can find fitted by a FENSA registered company.

 

[Screwed]

We can't have double glazing though as it's a conservation area, isn't this just classed as maintanence??

Cheers.

 

[Richard C]

If it’s a conservation area, different rules apply. It’s not an area I know much about but I believe planning permission may also be required, especially if your property is listed! The interpretation & application of the guidelines also vary depending on your LABC; some are more vigorous in interpretation than others; for instance some seem to allow DG & some don’t &, generally, those that don’t require you to replace like for like so you’ve already fallen foul of that one; & you may even have breached planning regulations but I don’t know. In order for it to be classed as maintenance, I believe may have to replace the French windows with a door that is similar to the original.

Have a read here & see if you can get what you want out of it;

http://www.tangram.co.uk/GI-Replacement_Windows&Planning_Law.html

You may be able to get further advice from your LABC or perhaps others on here with specialist knowledge of conservation areas can advise.

 

[Screwed]

Cheers Richard, I have e-mailed our local planning office and also FENSA for more advice. I know that ignorance is no defence but how on earth are you supposed to be aware of the fact that you now require permission to replace your front/back door. I have never heard of FENSA before now and am positive there has been no leafleting or advisory information given out regarding these rules by my local authority. Am I allowed to change a light bulb anymore?!?!

I'll report any updates as and when, fingers crossed we'll be ok.

Mike.

 

[Richard C]

Am I allowed to change a light bulb anymore?!?!

Shhh, don’t say things like that too loudly or it’ll be next on the list; they may even be working on it as we speak as there's not much more you can do now regards electrics in a bathroom or kitchen!

 

[Screwed]

May be able to get out of this one. I've read on line that the new regulations are not applicable to properties in conservation areas - also that it's not applicable to single dwellings such as flats, not sure why but that's what I've read, and we happen to live in a flat!!! I have e-mailed our local council but so far they don't know their rrrr's from their elbow.

Fingers crossed we'll be fine and our sale doesn't fall through. Whoever cooks up these ideas should be shot if you ask me. Fair enough, save energy, turn lights off etc but this is like living under a dictatorship!!

 

[Richard C]

Fingers crossed we'll be fine and our sale doesn't fall through. Whoever cooks up these ideas should be shot if you ask me. Fair enough, save energy, turn lights off etc but this is like living under a dictatorship!!

Spain was under Franco for donkey's but even that's generally more laid back on regs. than the UK now - mind you they are not renownned for their democracy when it suits the local Mayor. Do post on how you get on, it's allways usefull info!

 

[Screwed]

Got an answer from the council....... Basically, regardless of the conservation area or single dwelling we would need planning permission if the frame was changed. If it's just the doors it is classed as maintenance and permission is not required.

How would they know if you changed the frame though??

 

[Richard C]

Got an answer from the council....... Basically, regardless of the conservation area or single dwelling we would need planning permission if the frame was changed.

I'm not sure that's right; if you’re in a conservation area, it's listed or part of a complex with a common façade you may need PP but if none of those apply, you don’t need PP but you will have to comply with B regs.

If it's just the doors it is classed as maintenance and permission is not required. How would they know if you changed the frame though??

They probably won't unless they get nosey; but a future buyer's surveyor might pick it up & start asking questions; it’s a risk you may choose to take!

 

[Screwed]

Apologies Richard, I meant B regs not planning, they agree that planning permission is not required, neither is conservation area planning as it's the back door and a like for like replacement.

Well, our buyers surveyor didn't question the doors at all, nor did ours when we bought in 2003, it's simply our buyers solicitor asking.

As far as I'm concerned I replaced the doors in the existing frame, no idea when the frame went in as it was there when we bought the property in 2003.........................................