Insurance Backed Guarantee (IBG) providers differ on the things that matter: regulation, scheme approval, fees, claims handling and speed of issue. Three checks are non-negotiable before you sign with anyone. The provider is FCA-regulated, they’re approved by your scheme. They’ll put every fee in writing. The other seven points on this checklist separate a provider that merely issues certificates from one that helps you win work.
| Quick answer: Before choosing an Insurance Backed Guarantee provider, check three things first: FCA regulation (look them up at register.fca.org.uk), approval by your scheme (FENSA, CERTASS, Assure, CompetentRoofer or MCS), and a full written fee schedule with no hidden fees. Then compare the claims process your customer would face, the guarantee terms on offer, cover for your specific trade, the provider’s track record, sales support, and how quickly the certificate reaches your customer. |
The 10-point checklist
1. Is the provider FCA-regulated?
An Insurance Backed Guarantee is an insurance policy, so any business arranging it should be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. The UK’s financial services regulator. Search the company name or reference number on the FCA register and check the entry says “authorised”.
Why it matters: a “guarantee” from an unregulated provider isn’t insurance.
If that provider fails, your customers have no route to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. The safety net that protects policyholders if an insurer goes under. HomePro’s FCA reference is 304449.
Red flag: no FCA reference number on the website, or a register entry marked “not authorised” or “cancelled”.
2. Who pays the claim?
The provider arranges the policy, but an insurance company stands behind it and pays valid claims — subject to the terms and conditions of the policy. That company is called the underwriter.
Ask any provider two questions: who underwrites the policy, and are they FCA-authorised? Then check the insurer on the FCA register yourself. A provider that can’t or won’t name the insurer behind their policies is asking you to sell your customers a promise you can’t verify.
3. Is the provider approved by your scheme?
If you’re joining a scheme, and that scheme publishes a list of approved Insurance Backed Guarantee providers. FENSA, CERTASS, Assure, CompetentRoofer and MCS each maintain their own, then if your provider isn’t on your scheme’s list, your policies may not satisfy the scheme rules.
And your certificate registrations may be at risk.
Check the list with your scheme directly before signing anything.
HomePro is on the approved provider lists for FENSA, CERTASS and Assure, and is MCS-approved for renewables. So whichever scheme you register with, one membership covers it.
4. Will they put every fee in writing?
The per-installation premium is only part of the cost. Before committing, ask for written answers on all four fees:
- Is there a joining or vetting fee?
- Is there an annual membership fee?
- Is there a non-usage fee in months where you register no jobs?
- Are there volume minimums?
- Do they charge a per installation registration fee?
- Do the premiums include IPT?
HomePro’s answers, for the record: no non-usage fee, no volume minimum, and we will give you every fee in writing before you sign. You pay when you issue a policy — not for the months you don’t.
One important note: one of the factors which can impact your premium prices is your company information, which means if anything shows up during vetting (a CCJ, a low credit score etc), that can impact the premiums you’ve been quoted, so do provide this information upfront if you know it.
5. How easy is the claims process for your customer?
Your customer may live with this policy for 10 years. If your business ever ceased trading, how would they claim?
Ask: does the homeowner deal with the provider directly? What paperwork do they need? And is the process repair-led. The insurer arranging the fix — rather than an argument about money? Claims are assessed against the original guarantee, subject to the terms and conditions of the policy.
6. Does the Insurance Backed Guarantee provide what you need?
The Insurance Backed Guarantee follows your written guarantee, up to the policy maximums. That’s typically 10 years in glazing and roofing, and a minimum of 6 years for renewables under the redeveloped MCS scheme.
Confirm the term you’re looking for is available for your trade, and what happens when your guarantee is longer than the policy maximum.
7. Can the Insurance Backed Guarantee Provider cover all of your trades?
A glazing policy doesn’t automatically cover a conservatory installation, and vice versa. The covered work types are listed in the policy wording — if your work isn’t listed, it isn’t covered.
If you work across trades — windows and conservatories, solar, roofing and renewables — ask whether they can cover all of your trades. Having one membership instead of two saves admin and stops jobs slipping through the gap between policies.
8. Will the provider still be here in year nine?
You’re issuing promises that last up to a decade. The provider needs to outlast every policy you register. Look at how long they’ve been operating, how many installers use them, and how many policies they’ve covered.
HomePro has been trading since 2002, has over 2000 installers, and issued more than 1.1 million Insurance Backed Guarantees standing behind £6.7 billion of home improvements.
Whatever provider you weigh up, look for that kind of track record in the public domain.
9. Do they support your sales process?
Because you’re not an Insurance Intermediary, you’re not supposed to advise your customers about Insurance products, that includes the Insurance Backed Guarantee.
This means your provider’s materials have to do the talking — customer-facing documents to include with your quote, and someone your customer can ask directly.
With HomePro you get marketing material, and an account manager so you always have help for any customer queries.
If your provider sends a certificate and an invoice, and nothing else, it could leave you fielding insurance questions you’re not allowed to answer.
10. How fast does the certificate reach your customer?
Every day the paperwork sits in a provider’s system is a day your customer might ring you asking where their Insurance Backed Guarantee paperwork is.
So ask any provider you’re talking to: once I register a job, how long until my customer has their Insurance Backed Guarantee documents? Some providers batch them up and send in bulk at a certain time. Others send them instantly.
It’s a question regardless of how you’ll be registering your Insurance Backed Guarantees. If you’re keying installations in by hand, you want them turned around fast. If they arrive automatically from your scheme via auto-issue, which glazing installers get through FENSA, CERTASS and Assure — you still want them moving straight out the door, not parked in a queue.
How HomePro does it
Registered with an email address? The documents are usually emailed to your customer within 24 hours.
No email address for the customer? The documents are generally posted automatically, sent out within a week — though delivery is then down to the postal service.
With auto-issue, installation details come through from your scheme, and you have a week to check them before they’re issued. Happy with them? Push them through yourself, and they follow the same route as above, depending on whether there’s an email address or not.
| Not sure how your current provider scores? Call HomePro on 0800 131 0500 (Mon–Fri, 9:00am–5:00pm) or join the network and we’ll run a comparison with you. |
The checklist
| Check | How to verify |
|---|---|
| 1. FCA-regulated | register.fca.org.uk |
| 2. Named, FCA-authorised insurer behind the policy | Ask, then check the register |
| 3. Approved by your scheme | Confirm with the scheme directly |
| 4. Every fee in writing | Ask for the full fee schedule |
| 5. Clear, repair-led claims process | Ask about the claims process |
| 6. Terms match your requirements | Check with the provider |
| 7. Policy fits your trade(s) | Ask about trades covered |
| 8. Track record | Years trading, network size, number of policies covered |
| 9. Sales support | Certificates, documents, reviews |
| 10. Document speed speed | Confirm the scheme integration |
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if an Insurance Backed Guarantee provider is FCA-regulated?
Search the company name or FCA reference number at register.fca.org.uk. The entry should show the firm as authorised and list what it’s permitted to do. HomePro’s FCA reference is 304449.
What is an underwriter, and why should I care?
The underwriter is the insurance company that stands behind the policy and pays valid claims. The provider arranges the policy, the underwriter carries the risk. Ask who it is and check they’re FCA-authorised on the register. If a provider won’t name them, ask why.
Can I switch providers without leaving my customers uncovered?
Yes. Policies already issued stay with the old provider for their full term. They’re insurance contracts and don’t depend on your ongoing relationship. New jobs go under your new provider from the day you go live, so there’s no gap.
Is there a minimum number of policies I have to register each month?
It depends on the provider — some charge a non-usage fee in months where you register nothing. HomePro has no non-usage fee and no minimum. Get the answer in writing before signing.
Do all providers offer auto-issue for FENSA?
No. Auto-issue needs a direct link between the provider and your scheme. HomePro auto-issues for FENSA, CERTASS and Assure. Providers without the integration need you to register each job manually. Confirm it before you assume it.
What happens to my customers’ policies if I change provider?
Nothing — existing policies stay in force with the original provider for their full term. Only new jobs move to the new provider. Your customers’ cover carries on unchanged.
Disclaimer: This post is for general information only. It is not financial, legal or insurance advice. While we take care to make sure the information is accurate, scheme rules, legal requirements and third-party details can change without notice — always check the latest position with the relevant scheme or official body before acting on anything here. HomePro accepts no liability for any loss arising from errors or omissions in, or reliance on, the information in this article. Insurance Backed Guarantees are subject to the terms, conditions and limitations of the individual policy.
