Competent person self-certifications schemes

The building regulations set out legal requirements for specific aspects of building work and the notification procedures that must be followed when starting, carrying out, and completing building work. In England, the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) is responsible for the Building Regulations.

The building regulations require that a project’s compliance with the regulations is independently verified. Building Control Bodies (BCB’s) are responsible for checking building work to verify that it complies with the regulations. Building Control Bodies might be:

• The building control department of the Local Authority.
• An Approved Inspector.

However, ‘Competent person self-certifications schemes’ (or ‘competent person schemes’) introduced in 2002 allow registered installers who are competent in their field to self-certify certain types of building work. For example, air-tightness testing, plumbing and heating installers, electrical installers, cavity wall insulation installers and so on. The current schemes are listed on the gov.uk website.

Competent person schemes should make approval faster and cheaper, as there are no building regulations inspections or fees.

The Department for Communities and Local Government is in charge of authorising competent person schemes. To ensure standards are consistent, there are rules that scheme operators must follow. Ref DCLG, Building regulations: competent person self-certification schemes - conditions of authorisation from 6 June 2012.

Schemes have different application processes, rules and fees, however, to be registered with a competent person scheme, installers need to demonstrate that they meet the relevant minimum technical competence (MTC) requirements and there are then ongoing inspections every 2 years.

NB ‘Common’ MTC requirements can also apply to Green Deal installers and installers registered with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme.

NB On 1 July 2026, the Building Safety Regulator and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government have published new guidance setting out the Mandatory Technical Competence (MTCs) requirements for self-certification schemes. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/self-certification-schemes-mandatory-technical-competence-requirements?

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Approved documents.
• Approved inspector.
• Building Control Bodies.
• Building Regulations.
• Competent person.
• Electrical contractor.
• Mandatory Technical Competence.
• Planning permission.
• Self certification.
• Statutory approvals.

[edit] External references

• DCLG, Building regulations: competent person self-certification schemes - conditions of authorisation from 6 June 2012.
• Current schemes are listed on the gov.uk website.
• Gov.uk Providing effective building regulations so that new and altered buildings are safe, accessible and efficient.