Insurance Backed Guarantees

[ADW29]

Hi, I wondered if someone would be kind enough to help me.

A friend is thinking of setting his own Extension/Conservatory company up which will include windows and doors.

Could you tell me if it is a legal requirement to offer customers an Insurance Backed Guarantee? They will get a guarantee from him and backed by the manufacturer, but he is unsure whether he also needs to offer an insurance backed guarantee.

He does not want to have to sign up to FENSA/Certass etc due to their high costs, instead he would be going through the Local Council for a Building Regulations Certificate on all jobs - plus this gives the customer peace of mind with someone actually visiting.

Also, he will be bringing some self employed sub contractors in, would he need to offer Public Liability or again is this optional?

Thanks in advance.

 

[DontAsk]

In my experience, a lot of conservatory and window companies come and go. I would not attach a high value to a guarantee from such a company.

An insurance backed guarantee is a way to offer a guarantee that might be worth the paper its printed on (maybe more) if the company does not outlive the guarantee period.

 

[ADW29]

I completely get where your coming from, I just wondered if it was a legal requirement to offer insurance backed guarantees for Conservatories and Double Glazing?

 

[S Isaac]

As far as I'm aware, nobody need to offer an insurance backed guarantee in the building trade (apart from new builds with their NHBC guarantee).

However, members of the FMB can offer an insurance backed guarantee for a % of the job value, or at least to be able to a few years back.