What is a Professional Consultants Certificate?
A Professional Consultants Certificate is a legal document that confirms your construction project has been completed to a satisfactory level, has been monitored by a professional and signed off by a qualified architect or surveyor.
The PCC declares that all the construction work conforms to building regulations, planning permissions, and any associated contracts.
As PCCs are typically issued by architects, they’re often referred to as Architect’s Certificates, and before the UK finance merger took over the Council of Mortgage Lenders, they were called CML Certificates. However, they’re now called Professional Consultants Certificates and are considered to be a more affordable alternative to a structural warranty.
However, a PCC is not a latent defects insurance policy and can only provide limited legal protection for defects.
When is a Professional Consultants Certificate required?
A PCC is needed when you attempt to take out a loan to fund the construction of a property. The lender will not release the funds until you’ve obtained a PCC, which also applies to stage payments. This is when the lender will release money in instalments at key stages of the project.
A Professional Consultants Certificate ensures that the construction on your project has been monitored and completed properly, in line with all regulations.
What are the benefits of a Professional Consultants Certificate?
There are four key benefits to obtaining a Professional Consultants Certificate for your construction project. They are:
- Building compliance – PCCs are used to confirm that a building complied with approved plans and building regulations during its construction.
- Inspires confidence – A PCC can build confidence in buyers and investors, highlighting the quality of a construction project.
- Unlocks potential –A Professional Consultants Certificate can help you unlock the potential of your property, leading to more funding for bigger projects.
- Demonstrates professional experience – A PCC shows that the architect who designed your building has the relevant construction experience and professional indemnity insurance.
Do mortgage lenders accept a Professional Consultants Certificate?
Yes! A Professional Consultants Certificate is accepted by 95% of lenders in the CML/UK Finance Handbook.
Major high street banks and mortgage lenders, such as Barclays, Halifax, HSBC, Aviva, Nationwide, and so on, willingly accept a Professional Consultants Certificate.
Summary
So, if you’re in the process of starting a construction project but require the finances to help get things moving, you’ll require a Professional Consultants Certificate.
This legal document will confirm that your project has been completed following building regulations, planning permission and other associated agreements.
You can obtain one from ABC+ Warranty
