Competent persons
Competent persons schemes were introduced by the Government to allow individuals and enterprises to self-certify that their work complies with the building regulations as an alternative to submitting a building notice or using an approved inspector.
The principles of self-certification are based on giving people who are competent in their field the ability to self-certify that their work complies with the building regulations without the need to submit a building notice and thus incurring local authority inspections or charges.
Types of work include:
- Replacement windows and doors
- New and replacement boilers, gas or oil
- Solid fuel burning appliances
- New and replacement electrical work in dwellings
- Micro generation installations, such as PV panels
Work carried out by installers under a competent person scheme is required to notify the local authority within 30 days of the completion of the work.
A list of self certification schemes is available in Schedule 3: Self-certification schemes and Exemptions from Requirements to Give Building Notice or Deposit Full Plans of the Building Regulations 2010 (as amended). The list can be viewed here at: www.gov.uk/browse/housing/planning-permission