For new builds & self-builds
A new build PCC, monitored from the ground up.
Building from scratch and your lender wants certification instead of a 10-year structural warranty? A monitored Professional Consultants Certificate inspects your build at every key stage, from foundation level to completion, and is accepted by most UK mortgage lenders.
Most lenders
Accepted as a warranty alternative
UK Finance Lenders' Handbook
From foundations
Inspected as the build goes up
Appoint us before you break ground
6 years
Validity from completion
Fixed fee, no hourly billing
Why new builds need certification
When a brand-new home is sold or mortgaged within its first ten years, the lender wants reassurance it was built to a proper standard. Section 6.7 of the UK Finance Lenders' Handbook sets out what they'll accept, and a 10-year structural warranty (NHBC, LABC, Premier Guarantee) is only one of the options. A monitored Professional Consultants Certificate sits right alongside them.
For a self-build or a one-off plot, a warranty can be disproportionately expensive and slow to arrange. A monitored PCC achieves the same thing for a lender, a qualified, insured professional confirming the build meets a satisfactory standard, by inspecting the construction at its key stages rather than insuring against future defects.
The stages we inspect on a new build
We like to visit at the moments that matter, while the structure is still visible. On a typical new build that means:
- Foundation level, before the concrete is poured
- Damp-proof course, oversite and ground floor
- Superstructure, once the blockwork or frame is up
- Roof, once the building is weathertight
- First fix, before the structure is plastered over
- Final inspection at practical completion
The exact schedule flexes with your build. See the full stage-by-stage breakdown.
When self-builders come to us
The situations where a monitored PCC is the natural fit. If yours isn't listed, ask us, we'll tell you straight whether monitoring is the right route.
A self-build home
You're building your own house and your lender wants evidence it's been built to standard. A monitored PCC certifies the build from foundation level without committing you to a 10-year structural warranty.
A custom or developer one-off
A bespoke new build or a single developer plot. Inspecting the milestones as the build goes up gives the buyer's lender the reassurance they need at completion.
A small development of units
A handful of new homes or apartments. We monitor the build across the key stages and certify each unit. Fixed fee per unit on schemes of six or more.
Avoiding the cost of a structural warranty
A PCC sits on the same lender-acceptance list as NHBC, LABC and Premier Guarantee, but is usually faster and cheaper to put in place for a one-off build.
New build & self-build PCC, your questions
The questions self-builders and developers ask us most. If yours isn't here, message us on WhatsApp, we reply the same working day.
Do I need a structural warranty for a new build, or will a PCC do?
For most mortgage lenders, a Professional Consultants Certificate is an accepted alternative to a 10-year structural warranty such as NHBC or LABC, under Section 6.7 of the UK Finance Lenders' Handbook. For a one-off self-build or a small development, a monitored PCC is often the faster, lower-cost route to the same outcome: a lender-recognised certificate confirming the home was built to a satisfactory standard.
When should I appoint the surveyor on a self-build?
As early as possible, ideally before you break ground. A monitored PCC relies on the surveyor inspecting the build at each key stage, starting at foundation level before the concrete is poured. The earlier we're appointed, the more of the build we can certify and the stronger the certificate. If you've already started, we can usually still pick it up at the stage you've reached.
How many inspections does a new build need?
Typically five to six: foundations, damp-proof course and ground floor, superstructure, roof, first fix and a final visit at completion. The exact schedule depends on the size and type of build. We agree it with you and your builder at the outset and book the visits around your programme.
How much does a new build PCC cost?
It's a fixed fee, agreed up front and set by the number of inspections your build needs, with no hourly billing. On developments of six or more units it's £600 per unit. Tell us the address and the type of build and we'll send a quote, usually the same working day.
What if I've already finished building?
If the build is complete, the construction stages can no longer be inspected, so a monitored PCC isn't possible. A retrospective PCC is the route instead: a single comprehensive inspection plus a review of your paperwork. It's accepted by fewer lenders, so we check yours first. See our monitored vs retrospective guide for the full picture.
Who signs the certificate?
A RICS Chartered Building Surveyor, carrying the professional indemnity insurance the Lenders' Handbook requires, who takes professional responsibility for the statement they sign. The certificate is valid for six years from completion.
Explore the monitored PCC guides
Monitored PCC, the complete guide
How a Professional Consultants Certificate is issued during the build, the inspection stages, lender acceptance and cost.
Monitored vs retrospective PCC
Inspected during the build or certified after completion: lender acceptance, timing and cost compared.
Retrospective PCC, the complete guide
What a retrospective Professional Consultants Certificate is, the process, what we inspect, lender acceptance and cost.
Building from scratch? Let's get it monitored.
Appoint us early and we'll inspect from foundation level. Tell us the address and the type of build for a fixed-fee quote the same working day.
Not sure your lender needs a warranty or a PCC? Check lender acceptance or compare a PCC vs a structural warranty.