HETAS Certificate of Compliance — England and Wales

This guide covers work self-certified and notified through the HETAS Competent Person Scheme in England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate approval and completion processes; a HETAS notification does not replace them.

What the certificate actually is

A HETAS Certificate of Compliance, also described as a Building Regulation Compliance Certificate, records work notified by a registered installer. In England and Wales, HETAS sends the record to Local Authority Building Control, so the certificate provides:

Evidence of the notified installation for an insurer
Evidence a conveyancer may request during a property sale
Record of the installation specifications
A record that HETAS uses for the Local Authority notification

Source: HETAS Certificate of Compliance guidance.

When you receive it

After completing eligible work in England or Wales, the registered installer notifies it through the HETAS Technical Hub. HETAS says:

HETAS forwards records to the relevant Local Authority every Tuesday
The Certificate of Compliance is posted to you within 2 weeks of installer notification
HETAS retains the installation record in its certificate database

If it has not arrived within 2 weeks of notification, contact the installer and then HETAS support. HETAS says to report a missing certificate within two months to avoid a duplicate-certificate fee.

What the certificate costs

Ask whether notification and certification are included in the installation quote; HETAS does not prescribe how an installer itemises their commercial price. The alternative building-control route and its fee vary by local authority.

Retrieving a lost certificate

Visit hetas.co.uk/consumer/certificates-of-compliance/
Search by postcode or original reference number
Click the orange reference number to view the record
Pay the current replacement fee of £36
Certificate emailed to you within 30 minutes

The live HETAS order page is authoritative if the fee changes.

Regional limits

HETAS states that notification by Competent Person Scheme registrants does not apply in Scotland or Northern Ireland. Consumers there should contact the relevant local authority before installation. In Scotland, a HETAS-registered business may optionally issue a HETAS certificate as written confirmation of its own work, but that does not replace the Scottish building-warrant and completion process. Northern Ireland’s district councils administer Building Regulations approval.

Sources: HETAS regional certificate guidance and HETAS Scotland conditions.

If no certificate exists for your install

For an installation in England or Wales, two common reasons are:

Your installer wasn’t HETAS-registered — the work may still meet the technical requirements, but it was not notified through the HETAS Competent Person Scheme.
Your installer was HETAS-registered but never notified the install — ask the installer and HETAS to confirm whether a notification exists before taking further action.

Next step: contact Local Authority Building Control to ask which notification or regularisation route is available. The authority decides its fee, evidence and inspection requirements, and it may require remedial work.

What you cannot do: get a HETAS-registered installer to issue a retrospective Certificate of Compliance. HETAS rules explicitly prohibit registered installers from self-certifying work performed by someone else — this is a foundational rule of the Competent Person Scheme.

Selling a house without a certificate

A conveyancer may request the certificate as evidence that the installation was notified. If it is missing, ask the conveyancer and Local Authority Building Control what evidence or corrective route is acceptable. Do not assume an indemnity policy will satisfy a particular buyer or lender.

Insurance implications

HETAS says certificate information can be required to validate home insurance. Requirements vary by insurer, so disclose the stove and ask what evidence your policy needs. Keep the certificate and a digital copy with the appliance records.

Request up to 3 free quotes from HETAS-registered installers

Postcode + scenario + budget. We match you with vetted HETAS installers near you. No payment, no spam.

Find an installer

Frequently asked questions

What is a HETAS Certificate of Compliance?

It records installation work notified by a HETAS-registered installer. In England and Wales, HETAS sends the record to Local Authority Building Control and the certificate provides evidence of that notified work. Competent Person Scheme notification does not apply in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

When do I receive my HETAS certificate?

For eligible work notified in England or Wales, HETAS says the certificate is posted within 2 weeks of installer notification and records are sent to relevant local authorities every Tuesday. If it does not arrive, contact the installer and then HETAS support.

Is the HETAS certificate cost separate?

Ask the installer whether notification and certification are included in the quote; commercial itemisation varies. HETAS currently charges £36 for a replacement copy through its certificate search.

Do I need the certificate when selling my house?

A conveyancer may request it as evidence that installation work in England or Wales was notified. If it is missing, search HETAS’s database and ask your conveyancer and Local Authority Building Control which evidence or corrective route they require.

What if I don’t have a certificate for an old install?

For an installation in England or Wales, search HETAS by postcode or reference number and order a £36 replacement if a record exists. If it does not, ask Local Authority Building Control about the available route. A HETAS registrant cannot retrospectively self-certify another person’s work. Scotland and Northern Ireland use separate completion evidence.

Can I check the certificate is genuine?

Search HETAS’s certificate database by postcode or reference number and contact HETAS if the record and paperwork do not match. This confirms a HETAS record; it is not a substitute for the different approval records used in Scotland or Northern Ireland.