The Competent Roofer Scheme

CompetentRoofer is a government licensed Competent Person Scheme that enables professional roofing contractors to self-certify that their roof refurbishment work complies with Building Regulations in England and Wales.  The scheme was launched in 2006 in order to provide buyers of roof refurbishment services a safe place in which they could find reputable roofing contractors who would ensure compliance with building regulations in England and Wales.  It covers all types of roofing for domestic, commercial and industrial properties and any roofing contractor can apply, no matter how small your company is. 

Under the Building Regulations, any homeowners who need 50% or more of the roof replaced must upgrade the installation to the current minimum standard, notifying their local authority at least 48 hours before work commences.  Any failure to comply with this requirement can result in an enforcement notice.  Using a registered CompetentRoofer gives building owners the reassurance that the work carried out will comply with all relevant standards and that the legal obligations are met.  The CompetentRoofer Scheme offers building owners the confidence of the 4 Cs:

• Competent – roofers are fully audited and inspected before joining the scheme and at regular intervals throughout their membership.
• Compliant – registered contractors work to the current Building Regulations and are audited against the most up to date British Standards.
• Certified – members are authorised to self-certify that their work complies with current Building Regulations.
• Covered – A ten year insurance-backed guarantee is included with notification of roof refurbishment works up to a value of £50,000 where the building height is four storeys or less (this guarantee is also available for industrial or commercial premises).

Why join?  Well, as a CompetentRoofer authorised contractor you’ll be able to self-certify that your work is compliant with Part L of the Building Regulations and by registering work through the scheme, it will save costs and time for your clients, whether they are domestic or commercial customers.

In cases where 50% or more of a roof needs refurbishment work, there is a legal requirement for the building owner to notify the Local Authority Building Control (LABC) and also to upgrade the insulation.  In cases where the LABC Is not notified of the work, the contractor could face unlimited fines and the owner of the building is likely to experience difficult when selling the property at a later date.  Using a registered Competent Roofer eliminates these problems for property owners as every Competent Roofer will take care of the legal requirements, therefore taking the strain off the property owner.  Using the CompetentRoofer scheme to find a contractor can save a property owner thousands of pounds, an issue that is particularly relevant in Housing Association schemes.  A Building Regulations Compliance Certificate will automatically be sent to the client (multiple certificates in the case of Housing Associations). 

Other benefits to the contractor will include a company profile featured on the CompetentRoofer website and the ability to use the CompetentRoofer logo on their own advertising materials, along with complementary access to dedicated technical support from qualified technical managers during working hours.