Retrospective Certification: A Case Study in Edinburgh

At DRM, we’re often asked to step in when retrospective certification is required — typically during property sales where alterations were made without a completion certificate being issued at the time of construction.

In this recent case, we were instructed by the homeowner to carry out an inspection of his Edinburgh property. The aim was to assess whether a new SER Certificate of Design could be issued, enabling City of Edinburgh Council to accept a completion certificate for alteration works completed nearly two decades earlier.

The property had been altered and extended around 2005, with the original structural design and certification provided by an engineer who has since retired. While the work was generally in accordance with the original drawings, there were a few post-warrant deviations, including:

• Modification of window and door openings at first floor level, including construction of new masonry.

• Replacement of the timber staircase with a proprietary steel stair, later fitted with polycarbonate sheeting to comply with current building regulations.

• Installation of a window rail to prevent access to a flat roof, mitigating the need for edge protection or structural upgrades to the roof.

The structure was found to be in good condition, with no evidence of movement, distress, or settlement. The alterations were suitably robust and well-integrated with the existing fabric, and they had been constructed in accordance with the original designs.

Given these findings, and with agreement from City of Edinburgh Council on minor compliance upgrades, we concluded that it was appropriate to issue a new SER Certificate to cover the post-warrant design changes and allow the completion certificate to be accepted — enabling the property sale to proceed.