There is mounting concern that the demise of Home Information Packs has led to a reduction in the number of completion certificates being issued.

Completion certificates are issued by Competent Person schemes or Local Authority Building Control to the homeowner once an installation under the scope has been completed, such as a hot water cylinder.

The new coalition government dropped the controversial HIPs scheme in one of its first acts in power, with only the energy performance certificate element being retained. However, completion certificates, while no longer part of the HIP, remain a key element of the Building Control Regulations.

The certification procedure usually involves installers arranging for a review of the work from a building control inspector, or by self-certification if they are members of a competent persons scheme.

“The fear is that, with nobody demanding certificates, the number of unregistered and black market installations will increase, with unscrupulous and untrained installers able to get away with poor quality work,” said Bridges.

“There is a growing belief in the industry that the government needs to introduce other measures that will enforce the need for completion certificates in order to maintain standards.”