The PCA is the leading trade body for damp proofing, structural waterproofing, timber treatment, and surveying businesses. PCA membership is widely recognised by mortgage lenders, surveyors, and insurance companies and is required by many housing associations and local authorities.
| Issued by | Property Care Association |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | £550 a year |
| Renewal | Every year |
| Who needs it | Damp proofers, builders |
What you need to get it
4 requirements, and what counts as evidence for each.
Damp & Waterproofing Qualifications
Technical staff must hold relevant qualifications: CSRT (Certificated Surveyor in Remedial Treatment), CSSW (Certificated Surveyor in Structural Waterproofing), or equivalent. Operatives should have appropriate NVQ or City & Guilds.
Evidence: CSRT/CSSW certificates or equivalent for technical staff.
Insurance
Public liability (min £2m) and professional indemnity insurance.
Evidence: Insurance certificates.
Guarantee Scheme
PCA members must offer insurance-backed guarantees (IBGs) on treatments. The PCA operates its own IBG scheme.
Evidence: Signed up to PCA IBG scheme.
Technical Assessment
PCA assesses technical competence through application review and may inspect completed work.
Evidence: Completed application with case study examples.
What you have to keep doing
Getting it is the easy part. Keeping it means:
Annual Renewal
Renew annually.
Issue IBGs
Issue insurance-backed guarantees on all qualifying treatment works.
Is it worth it?
At £550, the question isn’t the fee — it’s whether it wins you work. For damp proofers it usually does, because it’s the first thing a cautious customer or a commercial buyer checks. Most trades hold accreditations and then hide the logos in the footer. If you’ve paid for it, it belongs where customers actually look.
Apply via Property Care Association
Tracking it
Accreditations lapse quietly. The renewal date lands in a busy month, nobody spots it, and you find out when a customer asks for the certificate. Gaffer keeps your accreditations, evidence and renewal dates in one place and reminds you before they expire.