INSTALLER RESOURCES
Insurance Backed Guarantee Guides
Everything UK installers need to know about Insurance Backed Guarantees — how they work, what they cost, and how to use them to win more business. Browse by your trade or start with the basics.
An Insurance Backed Guarantee underwrites an installer’s written guarantee and comes into effect if the installer ceases to trade as defined in the policy wordings. HomePro has issued over 1.78 million IBGs across UK installers since 1999, insuring more than £6.7 billion of home improvements. Cover available across double glazing, renewables, roofing, kitchens, bathrooms, extensions and more with FENSA, CERTASS and ASSURE auto-issue available.
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Most popular guides
The guides installers read before any others.
DOUBLE GLAZING & WINDOWS
Double Glazing Insurance Backed Guarantee Guides
Auto-issue, the six-year rule, switching provider and winning more glazing work.
RENEWABLES
Renewables Insurance Backed Guarantee Guides
MCS rules, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, and cover for solar, battery, heat pump and EV charger installers.
ROOFING
Roofing Insurance Backed Guarantee Guides
CompetentRoofer, 10-year guarantees on re-roofs, and winning council and social-housing work.
EXTENSIONS & GENERAL BUILDING
Extensions & General Building Insurance Backed Guarantee Guides
Guarantees vs structural warranties, Building Regulations sign-off and multi-trade cover.
BATHROOMS & KITCHENS
Bathroom & Kitchen Insurance Backed Guarantee Guides
Optional cover that wins quotes — what it includes and how to sell with it.
IBG BASICS
Insurance Backed Guarantee Basics
Scheme-agnostic foundations for every trade — start here if you are new to Insurance Backed Guarantees.
Quick answers for installers
The questions our team gets asked most often — answered clearly, without jargon. Last updated June 2026. This guide is written for FENSA, CERTASS, ASSURE and MCS-registered installers, drawing on current UK Building Regulations, MHCLG Conditions of Authorisation, and published scheme rules. Sources linked throughout. For specific legal or commercial advice on your business, consult a qualified professional.
Do I need an Insurance Backed Guarantee as a FENSA installer?
Yes. The requirement comes from UK law, not FENSA. Condition 17 of the MHCLG Conditions of Authorisation requires that every Competent Person Scheme ensures registered installers provide financial protection on domestic work for a minimum of six years. FENSA enforces this by requiring an IBG on every notified domestic installation. Failure can result in expulsion from the scheme.Do MCS-certified installers need an IBG for solar, heat pumps and renewables?
Yes, under both regimes. Installers still on the legacy MCS scheme must belong to an approved Consumer Code (RECC or HIES), which requires an FCA-regulated IBG. Under the MCS Redeveloped Installer Scheme (rolling out 2025–2026), Consumer Code membership is no longer mandatory, but installers must purchase an approved MCS financial protection product for every customer.
What happens if a FENSA installer doesn’t provide an IBG?
The installer can be expelled from FENSA. Issuing an IBG is mandatory because FENSA must comply with Condition 17 of the MHCLG Conditions of Authorisation to keep its Competent Person Scheme authorisation. Expelled installers cannot register with any other glazing Competent Person Scheme, ending legal self-certification for domestic window and door work.
Can I include the IBG cost in my quote, and how should I present it to customers?
Who underwrites HomePro IBGs and is HomePro FCA regulated?
Do CERTASS and ASSURE installers need to provide an IBG?
Yes. Like FENSA, CERTASS and ASSURE are MHCLG-authorised Competent Person Schemes, so they must comply with Condition 17 of the Conditions of Authorisation. Both require registered contractors provide an Insurance Backed Guarantee covering a minimum of six years for all domestic installations.
How much does it cost to issue an IBG?
There is no fixed IBG premium price. IBG premiums vary widely for reasons including the trade type, contract value, the installers risk profile etc. The premium is a one-off cost paid per installation when the IBG is issued — not an annual or recurring fee. Before signing with any provider, ask whether they charge a non-usage fee — many do, HomePro does not.
Who pays for the IBG — the installer or the homeowner?
The installer pays the premium and the homeowner is the policyholder. Installers are not FCA authorised to sell insurance, so the cost is absorbed into the overall quote rather than itemised. The premium is a single one-off cost per job — no annual fees or renewals. The certificate is issued by the IBG provider after completion.
Is HomePro on the FENSA Approved IBG Provider list?
How do I switch IBG provider?
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