Competent person scheme
Plain English. Practical detail. UK context.
A competent person scheme allows appropriately registered installers to self-certify defined types of work against Building Regulations requirements within the scheme's scope. It is not a universal trade licence or permission to certify everything a business offers. The work category, current registration and notification route need checking.
Last reviewed: (editorial review against the public sources listed below).
Why homeowners encounter the term
Government guidance explains that an eligible registered installer can handle the compliance notification for certain work rather than the homeowner making a separate building-control application. Examples can include relevant windows, heating or electrical work, depending on the authorised scheme. Check the actual category before appointment. A company logo on a van is not proof of current registration for this job. The original source also describes certificates and complaints arrangements. Homeowners should ask what record will be issued, by whom and which part of the project it covers.
Qualification, registration and certification differ
An individual's qualification, the business's scheme membership and a certificate for completed work serve different purposes. A trainee may hold course results without being authorised to self-certify independently. An installer registered for one activity may need a different route for another. Ask the scheme or use its official register when scope is unclear. Do not assume a bathroom fitter can certify every electrical or gas component because one part of the business has a relevant registration. Coordination with suitably competent specialists remains necessary.
Eligible work still needs proper design and checks
Self-certification is not an exemption from technical requirements. Product suitability, installation, testing, commissioning and records must match the actual work. Trainees should follow the supervised role and understand who accepts responsibility. Extensions, new construction or complex changes may fall outside the scheme category even where a similar replacement task is included. England's Approved Documents provide relevant technical guidance, while national arrangements differ. HSE duties for safe execution remain separate. A scheme certificate cannot turn an unsafe method or incompatible assembly into an acceptable installation.
Read the consumer protection and handover terms
Agree notification, certificate, warranty, maintenance and complaint arrangements in writing. A compliance certificate, workmanship guarantee and insurance-backed protection are not interchangeable documents. Check the actual cover and conditions rather than assume every loss is insured. Prices and outcomes vary from job to job, so compare written, itemised quotations rather than relying on a typical figure. Keep records with the property's other approvals. Homeowners should contact the responsible installer or scheme promptly about missing evidence, while tradespeople should manage registration and notification accurately. Do not advertise self-certification outside current scope or imply that membership proves independent approval of every item of the business's work.
Frequently asked questions
Does one registration cover every trade activity?
No. Check the authorised work categories and actual business registration.
Is a course certificate enough to self-certify independently?
Not by itself. Relevant scheme registration and its requirements must be met.
Sources and further reading
Public sources and further reading. Sources checked: 8 November 2026. Consult the original for details and later changes.