Professional Consultants Certificates - What You Need to Know

What is a PCC? 

The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) now called UK Finance has created the PCC on behalf of the banks to formalise and standardise the certification of newly built or newly converted residential property. 

The UK Finance standard PCC certificate needs to be administered and signed off by a chartered professional consultant such as a surveyor who must be registered with the Chartered Institute of Builders (CIOB) or an Architect who is registered with the Architects Registration Board (ARB), for it to be valid. 

Professional Consultants Certificates were previously called Architects Certificates. 

Why do I need a PCC? 

It has always been in the CML/UK Finance guidelines for lenders to request a PCC for newly converted property, however some mortgage lenders may have over-looked this in the past. We have found during the last 12 – 18 months that mortgage lenders have been tightening up on their lending criteria, and as such have been making sure these certificates are available. 

The majority of the mainstream residential mortgage lenders accept the PCC. You can find the current list of lenders by viewing the CML Lenders Handbook at:   https://www.cml.org.uk/lenders-handbook/   To fully satisfy yourselves, contact the lenders direct.

Who does the PCC work best for? 

Although a PCC is a great option for all residential property here are some scenarios and types of developer that work especially well. For instance, the PCC is quickly becoming the preferred option to self-builders and new developers due to not having the requirement of having to prove experience or financial guarantees that other options would. 

Another benefit for the PCC is we can offer certification for induvial units within a block, which a structural defect warranty can’t offer as they require the whole block to be covered, incurring un-reasonable high cost for the individual homeowner.  

Why Build Warranty and how can I apply? 

Quite simply, no other company can match us for a combination of expertise, speed and cost. 

Expertise: Our certificates are administered by a leading Chartered Professional with 35 years of residential property experience with unparalleled client support through our customer service team. 

Efficiency: We operate a state-of-the-art online software platform. This means quotes; receipts and certificates are issued almost instantly. Our surveyors cover the UK and have access to the systems on the go. We have been known to issue retrospective certificates in less than 24 hours – which is great for those who are relying on this for a property exchange. 

Cost: Our digital systems drive efficiencies, which reduce costs. We can pass these onto customers. Our prompt quotes offer great value, and we offer unbeatable rates for those with multiple properties to certify.