How to Choose a Window and Door Installer in Leicester

Row of houses with windows and front doors — Photo via stocksnap (CC0)

To choose a window and door installer in Leicester, check the firm is registered with a competent person scheme such as FENSA or CERTASS on the scheme's own website, get at least three written quotes for the same specification, and read the guarantee and deposit terms before you sign. A local firm that surveys properly, explains its products clearly and puts everything in writing is usually a safer choice than the cheapest price.

Why the choice of installer matters

New windows and doors are one of the larger jobs most households take on, and they are expected to last for decades. The frames and glass matter, but so does the fitting. A well-made window that is poorly measured, badly packed or carelessly sealed can let in draughts and damp, stick when you open it, or fail to give the security it was designed for.

Leicester's housing adds its own challenges. Victorian and Edwardian terraces often have bay windows and narrow openings, inter-war semis may have curved or leaded designs, and parts of the city sit in conservation areas. An installer who has worked on homes like yours, such as an independent Leicester window and door specialist that surveys before it quotes, will spot problems at the survey stage rather than on fitting day.

Step 1: Check registration on the scheme's own website

Replacing windows and external doors in England is building work covered by the Building Regulations. GOV.UK explains that installers who belong to a government-authorised competent person scheme can self-certify that their work complies, so you do not need to arrange a separate inspection from building control.

For windows and doors, the best-known schemes are FENSA and CERTASS. Do not rely on a logo on a van or a website. Search the installer on the scheme's own site by company name or postcode. Once the job is finished, you should receive a certificate confirming the work was registered. Keep it safe, because a buyer's solicitor is likely to ask for it when you sell.

If an installer is not in a scheme, the work can still be legal, but someone will need to apply to building control. Ask at the start which route the firm uses and who pays any fees.

Step 2: Get three written quotes for the same job

Citizens Advice recommends getting written quotes from at least three traders. For windows and doors, the quotes are only comparable if they describe the same thing, so ask every firm to specify:

the frame material and system (uPVC, aluminium or composite for doors);
the glass type and the energy rating of the whole window;
the colour or foil, inside and out;
the locks, cylinders, handles and any trickle vents or restrictors;
removal and disposal of the old frames;
making good inside and out, including plaster, sills and silicone;
whether VAT is included and how long the price is valid.

A price far below the others is a reason to ask questions, not to sign straight away. It may leave out part of the job or use a lower-specification product.

Step 3: Read the guarantee and deposit terms

Most installers offer a guarantee on products and workmanship, but the detail varies. Ask how long it lasts, what it covers, and whether it is backed by an insurer so that it still applies if the company stops trading. Some firms belong to schemes that also protect your deposit and offer independent dispute resolution.

Citizens Advice suggests not agreeing to a deposit of more than 25%, paying in stages where possible and avoiding cash. Paying by credit card can give extra protection for purchases over £100.

Step 4: Judge the survey, not just the sales visit

A proper technical survey is where a good installer earns its money. The surveyor should measure every opening, check for damp, look at the condition of the brickwork and lintels, and talk you through which windows need fire escape hinges, trickle vents or toughened glass. Useful questions include:

Who will carry out the survey, and who will fit the windows: your own team or subcontractors?
How long is the lead time, and how many days will the work take on site?
What happens if you find rotten timber or a damaged lintel when the old frames come out?
Who do I contact if something needs adjusting after the job is finished?

Write down the answers from each firm. Comparing them side by side often tells you more than the price.

Step 5: Check planning before you commit

For most houses, replacing windows and doors with similar ones does not need planning permission. The Planning Portal notes that listed buildings, flats and homes in conservation areas or covered by an Article 4 Direction can be different. If you are unsure, check with Leicester City Council, or your district council if you live elsewhere in Leicestershire, before you place an order.

Some local options to start with

There are many window and door firms in and around the city. These five publish their products and registration details on their own websites, which makes them easy to check against the steps above. They are listed for information only and are not ranked.

URG Windows & Doors, Leicester: an independent Leicester window and door specialist fitting uPVC and aluminium windows and uPVC, composite, bi-fold and patio doors. It is a FENSA approved installer (registration 45069), its jobs are covered by Home Improvement Protection with deposit protection and an insurance-backed guarantee, and it offers free surveys and written quotes.
Harveys Windows & Conservatories, Empire Road: a family-run firm with more than 30 years as a local business, a fitted showroom and a 10-year insurance-backed guarantee.
Kettell Windows, East Goscote: family-run since 2005, FENSA registered, with a showroom at The Warren.
Leicester Window Supplies, Syston: more than 20 years of experience and CERTASS registered, with a base on Melton Road.
Wilson Windows, Loughborough: a family-run installer on Hanford Way that first started in 1984 and fits uPVC and aluminium windows and doors.

Warning signs to watch for

Pressure to sign on the day with a discount that "ends tonight".
A refusal to put the quote, specification or guarantee in writing.
A request for a large deposit or payment in cash.
No clear business address or landline, or a registration you cannot find on the scheme's website.
Vague answers about who will actually fit the windows.

If you agree a contract in your home, you usually have 14 days to cancel. If you ask for work to start within that period, you may have to pay for what has already been done.

Frequently asked questions

How many quotes should I get for new windows?

At least three written quotes for the same specification. That gives you a fair idea of the going rate and makes an unusually low or high price easier to spot.

Is FENSA the only scheme for window installers?

No. FENSA and CERTASS are the best-known competent person schemes for replacement windows and doors, and GOV.UK lists the authorised schemes. What matters is that the installer is genuinely registered and gives you a certificate at the end.

Do I need building control approval for replacement windows?

Not if a competent person scheme installer fits them, because they can self-certify the work. If your installer is not registered, building control approval is needed instead.

What should I keep after the job?

Keep the compliance certificate, the written guarantee, any insurance-backed guarantee certificate and your final invoice in one place.

Sources

General information only; check details directly with each business, and with the linked official sources for your own situation.

Local Life Notes editorial team

Our editors research every article from GOV.UK, Ofgem, the Energy Saving Trust and Citizens Advice, and update it when things change. Read our editorial policy.