The build is done. You've moved past all the messy construction stuff, and now you're trying to sell or remortgage the property. Then a solicitor or mortgage lender asks whether there's a Professional Consultants Certificate in place, and there isn't one, because nobody sorted it at the time.

This is genuinely one of the most common situations we deal with. And the good news is that it's very fixable.

Yes, you can get a PCC after the build is complete

A retrospective PCC is exactly what it sounds like. Rather than having a surveyor visit the site at various stages during the build, they come and inspect the finished property instead. They review whatever documentation is available, look at the build as it stands, and issue a certificate confirming it meets the required standard.

It's a well-established process. Most lenders accept retrospective PCCs, though a small number have specific preferences about the type of certificate they want. More on that in a moment.

Why do people end up needing retrospective certificates?

There's no single answer to this. Some common situations we see:

• The developer or builder just didn't get one sorted at the time
• The property was a personal project and certification wasn't on the radar until it came time to sell
• An inherited property that was converted by a previous owner, with no paperwork passed on
• A buyer has pulled out of a deal because their lender flagged the missing certificate, and it's now urgent
• The original warranty provider went under, or documentation was lost

Whatever the reason, the situation is usually salvageable.

One thing worth knowing about lender requirements

What does the process actually involve?

1. Get in touch and get a quote - tell us about the property and we'll give you a fixed price and a clear timeline.
2. Gather your documents - things like planning permission, building regulations approval, structural drawings, and a building control completion certificate. Don't worry if you don't have everything.
3. Site visit - one of our RICS-regulated surveyors visits and inspects the finished property.
4. Draft certificate - we prepare the certificate and send it over for your review before it's formally issued.
5. Final certificate issued - typically within 7 days of the site visit.

What if I don't have much documentation?

It's common. We work with incomplete documentation regularly and we'll tell you what we genuinely need versus what we can work around. Missing paperwork slows things down occasionally, but it's rarely a reason the certificate can't be issued at all.

Pricing and timescales

Retrospective PCCs from Sign-Off Direct start at £950 for a single unit, dropping to £600 per unit for six or more units. We aim to have certificates issued within 7 days of the site visit, and we cover the whole of the UK.