Guide
CHAS renewal
CHAS is not a one-off. It runs for twelve months and then needs renewing, and letting it slip can quietly drop you off a buyer's approved list.
The short answer
A CHAS certificate is valid for twelve months and must be renewed annually. Renewal means submitting your health and safety evidence again so it can be reassessed against the current SSIP core criteria, in the same way as your first application. If you miss the renewal, your listing drops off the client portal until you pass again, which can cost you access to buyers who check that database before issuing work.
How renewal works
Renewal is a fresh assessment, not a rubber stamp. You update and resubmit your policy, risk assessments, method statements, training records and the other core criteria evidence, and an assessor reviews it against the standard as it currently stands. Because the assessment repeats each year, the practical task is keeping your documents current rather than rebuilding them, so the businesses that renew smoothly are the ones whose paperwork is a living set rather than a file that sat untouched for a year.
What to update before you renew
- The policy date and signature. The statement of intent needs to be signed and dated within the last twelve months.
- Risk assessments and method statements. Reviewed for the work you actually did this year, not carried over unchanged.
- Training records. Current and in date, with any expired certificates renewed.
- Accident and enforcement history. Updated for the latest period.
- Insurance. Current employers' and public liability certificates.
For electrical contractors
Electrician CHAS pack · £95
A complete, editable set of documents that is easy to review and re-date each year, so renewal is an update rather than a rebuild.
What happens if you let it lapse
If you do not renew before the certificate expires, your listing comes off the CHAS client portal, and any buyer who relies on that listing will no longer see you as accredited. You can still reapply, but you go through the assessment again and you lose continuity in the meantime. The safe approach is to start your renewal well before the expiry date, so any assessor queries can be answered without a gap in your accreditation.
Related guides
Read the CHAS requirements in full, how to pass first time, and why applications fail.
Common questions
How long does a CHAS certificate last?
A CHAS certificate is valid for twelve months. It must be renewed each year by resubmitting your health and safety evidence for reassessment against the current SSIP core criteria.
How do I renew CHAS?
Renewal is a fresh assessment. You update and resubmit your policy, risk assessments, method statements, training records, accident history and insurance, and an assessor reviews them against the standard. Keeping documents current makes it an update rather than a rebuild.
What happens if my CHAS lapses?
If you do not renew before the certificate expires, your listing drops off the CHAS client portal until you pass again, so buyers who check that database will not see you as accredited. You can reapply, but you go through the assessment again.
When should I start my CHAS renewal?
Well before the expiry date, so any assessor queries can be resolved without a gap in your accreditation. Starting early avoids losing continuity on a buyer's approved list.