Contractor Accreditation

lynne
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Hi,

I’ve not heard of this before. Could you email us the details at Central Office so we can have a look at it.
I’m assuming it is only set up to ensure Health and Safety compliance.
Technically, the agent is responsible for risk assessments etc on properties when they send contractors in to do a job. There was a court case over asbestos in a property a while ago where the agent was found negligent in not doing a risk assesment before sending in a handyman.

We do have a health and safety statement for members if you are asked for one, and that has been suffient in the past.
There isnt a statutory requirement to join an organisation such as this, but if the agent is insisting on it, I’m not sure you will be able to refuse. Its just another way agents are trying to pass the buck.

jvpropserve
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hi

I have just spoken to one of the people at this agency in this regard. I think they are in discussion about whether this would apply to clerks as we are accredited elsewhere and have to have comprehensive insurances and we generally comply with the agents HS policy. this may not happen, but it also still may. The agency has said they will notify clerks once the matter has been finalised. But as Lynne has said, if we want the work, we may have no choice in the matter.

Lynne, I should probably know the answer to this but is the health and safety statement on the website for us to download? thanks
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june
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Hi Lynne,

As you say if we want the work will probably have to comply.

It is not cheap – web site pricing is:

ContractorPlus 1 -4 Emploees Registration is £50 and £120 Annual fee.

SafeContractor 1 – 4 Employees Annual Subscriptio £229.20 reducing to £182.40 once accreditation is received.

Any help in avoiding this cost would I am sure be apreciated by AIIC Members.

June

lynne
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Its not on the website at the moment. We are in the process of redeisigning the website so that most of the info and downloads will be available on the members only part of the site. Not sure how it will be set up. We’ve agreed a developer to do the work but there is still some discussion about exactly what needs to to on it. We hope he will be starting it soon.

In the meantime, if you email Central Office they will send you a copy. It was designed in response to a request from a member who had a demand for one from one of the major agents. Its actually very difficult to sort out, as its mainly to do with employing staff.

jvpropserve
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thanks very much for coming back to me Lynne. I will email the office as you have suggested.

lynne
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June,
Thanks for the email. I’ve had a look at both sites and I honestly dont see how it can be relevant to us. We are not actually making any physical changes to the property. We are just inspecting it. I can understand maintenance people possibly needing it as they could potentially do something that could cause injury, but what can we do. Leave the garden rake out for someone to fall over!!! We are more likely to injure ourselves as a result of others actions than do someone else an injury.

Frankly I’m not sure what to suggest. The websites blurb both say that they will tailor action to your job and size. Which means they will find some way to take money off you, even if its not actually relevant. They are both profit making concerns after all. And as they are web based, it seems that you have to pay before you fill the forms in, which makes it difficult to get a decision as to whether you actually need to register at all before you pay to register.
You could always say that you are accredited by AIIC and follow their H&S policy requirements. Not sure if that would work though. These big letting companies are led by their legal departments, who dont want to be responsible for anything as then they cant be sued when things go wrong.
If they force you to do it, go for the cheapest option.

sarah_roberts
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I too have received this email and am worried about the cost. I dont do a huge amount for this company so, although I wouldnt want to lose business by not belonging, I would be reluctant to join an annual membership. It seems it is to make their life easier that when they appoint a contractor all their credentials have previously been checked, it saves them time and money but not us? Would be interested to see the outcome of this. If we have all necessary insurance in place sure that should be sufficient?

lesley
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Just spoken to Rhianna at safecontractor – she was very helpful and when I explained what we do she said it may well be that the scheme is not applicable to us!! She is going to investigate this… so watch this space!!
lesley Chequers

june
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Hi Lesley,
Anything to avoid this would be a big help. One thought I have is to raise my prices to cover the cost and detail this on the Invoice the same way Ryan air do!

Fingers crossed it will not come to that..

June

admin
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Just to update from Pat:-

We are in communication with Savilles over this and believe it can be resolved without having to join these companies.

We’ve got their forms and will try to fill them out so there is a blanket coverage for AIIC members.

admin
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Another update:-

Inventory companies will be able to join our in-house Exempt scheme, this is a FOC service and used for specialist service lines such as this.

june
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Please could we have an update on this? I have just received another email from the agent stating that they will not be using any contractors after 1st January 2013 who are not accredited.

Thanks – June

admin
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Message fron Pat:-

We are waiting from a response from Savills as we believe that inventory clerks should be exempt from this sort of scheme. Since Savills is the only agent we have heard of who are operating this scheme to include clerks we can only await their response.

june
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Hi Admin – Was a response ever received from Savills?

Have any members joined the acreditation scheme and if so how is it working out?

Thanks – June

Savills are once again insisting that their clerks join the scheme. Does anyone have any up to date thoughts / advice regarding this topic?