Competent Person’s Schemes and Register Index (CPS)
Competent person self-certification schemes (commonly referred to as competent person schemes) were introduced by the government in 2002 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 fees. Self-certification can enhance compliance with the requirements of the building regulations, reduce costs for firms joining authorised schemes, and promote training and competence within the industry. It can also help tackle the problem of ‘cowboy builders’, and assist local authorities with enforcement of the building regulations.
Full details on the role of competent persons are available from the GOV.UK website.
The competent person schemes operators have established a website to provide the consumer with the ability to search for a competent person registered with one of the schemes: competent persons register.
This is an online register for Glazing, Cavity Wall Insulation, Gas, Roofing and Electrical works undertaken by registered companies who are required to notify the local authority when such works are completed.
Currently you can only search for Wealden and Eastbourne records, for Hastings and Rother please contact Building Control
You can use the online register to locate competent persons applications by entering a particular property address on the basic search screen, or by using the advanced search screen, checking the Building Control Applications box, entering ‘EL/’ (Electrical, Gas and Roofing works), ‘GF/’ (FENSA Glazing works) or ‘C/’ (Cavity Fill) in the application number field together with any other search criteria required.
The competent persons data on this site is updated weekly and contains information back to 2002 for Cavity Wall Insulation and FENSA Glazing Applications and 2005 for Electrical Works (this is when the scheme has commenced).