Safestyle announced on 30 October 2023 that it had gone into administration, and FENSA suspended the company as a FENSA Approved Installer on the same date1. FENSA, which monitors its Approved Installers' compliance with building regulations, published the position in a homeowner FAQ1.
"Due to the announcement made by Safestyle on the 30th of October 2023, FENSA have suspended Safestyle as a FENSA Approved Installer."
FENSA states that work completed before that date, where a FENSA certificate has been registered, is unaffected: the householder will still be issued with a FENSA certificate stating compliance with the building regulations, and with an Insurance Backed Guarantee (IBG)1. An IBG is described as an insurance policy that covers a guarantee if the company that issued it ceases to trade, meaning it is legally brought to an end because it cannot pay its debts1. For repairs, FENSA directs householders to the provider of the IBG policy issued with their FENSA certificate, or to their credit finance company if the goods were bought on credit1.
For orders paid for by credit, FENSA sets out the position on Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, which it describes as a UK consumer protection law giving the credit provider the same responsibility as the company the purchase was made from1. FENSA states this applies to purchases made with a credit card or via a loan for anything between £100 and £30,000, and that a claim is made to the credit provider rather than to Visa or Mastercard1. It adds that RISA carries out assessments of Section 75 claims for replacement windows and doors in a domestic setting, and offers a template claim letter1.
FENSA states it cannot assist on contractual matters, payments or non-installations where a company has gone into administration or is no longer trading1. For updates on orders, it directs householders in the first instance to safestylecustomers@interpathadvisory.com, and elsewhere suggests speaking directly with Safestyle about orders that were in the process of being installed, or the Citizens Advice Bureau for consumer guidance if Safestyle cannot be contacted1.
| Item | FENSA's stated position |
|---|---|
| Completed work with a registered FENSA certificate | Unaffected; certificate and IBG still issued1 |
| Repairs after Safestyle ceased trading | Speak to the IBG provider or the credit finance company1 |
| Credit purchases of £100 to £30,000 | Possible Section 75 claim to the credit provider1 |
| Contractual matters, payments, non-installations | FENSA cannot assist1 |
Why it matters for households
Windows and doors are a long-life purchase, and the guarantee behind them is part of what a household is buying. Where an installer stops trading, the practical route to putting right a faulty installation shifts from the installer to the IBG provider named on the FENSA certificate, or to a credit provider under Section 751. That matters for a home's energy independence because the performance of glazing, in particular its draught-proofing and thermal performance, depends on the installation being put right when it fails; a guarantee that cannot be called on leaves that work to the householder.
The distinction FENSA draws is between work already certified and work not yet done. A registered certificate and its IBG survive the installer's failure; an order in progress, or money paid for work not carried out, does not fall within FENSA's remit1. FENSA's own guidance on checking an installer before you sign and on FENSA and Certass registered installers sets out how approval and certification work, and its advice on what to do if your installer has stopped trading and on when your installer goes bust covers deposits, warranties and unfinished work.
What happens next
FENSA states that householders should contact safestylecustomers@interpathadvisory.com in the first instance for an update on their order1. No date has been reported for the conclusion of the administration, for the resumption of installations, or for the processing of claims.
Sources1 cited
- Homeowner FAQ's | Safestyle, fensa.org.uk