“So What is a Professional Consultants Certificate (PCC)?”

What was once generally known as an Architect’s Certificate for newly built or converted property is now known as the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) Professional Consultants Certificate (PCC).

Lenders will generally only lend on a newly built (or newly converted) property where the property is covered by a warranty scheme (for example, NHBC warranty, ABC+ Warranty) OR the CML Professional Consultant Certificate (PCC). The value of a PCC is inherent in its use as a CML compliance certificate to enable financing to occur. A PCC has no value as a warranty and does not perform this function:
So what does it require the architect to do? The CML certificate specifies:

“1 I visited the property at appropriate periods from the commencement of instruction to the current stage to check generally:

a)progress;

b)conformity with drawings approved under the building regulations; and

c)conformity with drawings/instructions properly used under the building contract.”

It is not a warranty as it does not state there are no defects in the property, nor does it oblige the architect to make good if there are, unlike a Warranty.

The CML Professional Consultant Certificate can only be signed by a consultant with one or more of the qualifications listed in section 6.6.4 of the Lenders’ Handbook, for example, Fellow or Associate of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). By signing the certificate the consultant confirms that he has complied with the requirements of the certificate and that he will remain liable to the owner and any lenders for a minimum of six years.
You’ll need this type of certificate if:

• You’re selling the property and your purchaser needs a mortgage or re-mortgaging against the property
• You want to rent the property and raise a Buy-to-Let mortgage to release equity

Click here for a link to a list of banks and building societies that currently accept our certificate.

Click on the links below for an example of a standard format certificate provided by the Council of Mortgage Lenders for your area.

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