Accreditation Renewal & Expiry: Don't Let Your Certificate Lapse

Almost every UK accreditation runs on a 12-month clock — CHAS, SafeContractor, SMAS Worksafe and SSIP certificates are all annual. Let one lapse and you can drop off the directory a client is searching, lose your Deem to Satisfy recognition, and miss a tender overnight. There's no published grace period, so the renewal date is the date that matters.

How long each one lasts

One nuance worth knowing: CHAS separates your membership date (when you pay) from your compliance date (when the assessment is renewed) — so check both.

What happens when a certificate lapses

Recognition under SSIP only holds while your details show correctly on the SSIP Portal. Once your entry expires, that Deem to Satisfy recognition stops — so other schemes can no longer "deem" you to satisfy their requirement off your certificate. In practice a lapse means:

1. 1
   You fall off the directory a client searches for approved contractors — they may simply not find you.
2. 2
   Deem to Satisfy breaks — any certificate you hold with another scheme on the back of this one expires with it.
3. 3
   You can't evidence the requirement mid-tender, which can stall a bid or an active contract.

How far ahead to renew

A sensible rule of thumb is to start your renewal 4–6 weeks before expiry — you can usually begin before the current certificate runs out, so there's no gap. Renewing online is generally less work than the first assessment (some schemes let you reuse much of last year's submission), though that's a time saving rather than a guaranteed price discount.

The Deem to Satisfy catch

If you hold a "deemed" certificate with a second scheme, its expiry mirrors your original SSIP certificate. So when you renew your base scheme, you then need to refresh the deemed certificates you hold elsewhere too — renewing the base keeps you eligible, but each deemed certificate has to be re-issued. Keeping the underlying evidence documents current — and having the CHAS documents checklist ready — makes each renewal far quicker.

Frequently asked questions

How long does CHAS last?

A CHAS certificate is valid for 12 months and renews via an annual assessment. Note that CHAS separates your membership payment date from your compliance (assessment) date, so check both when planning a renewal.

Is there a grace period if my accreditation expires?

No scheme we checked publishes a formal grace period. Once a certificate expires your SSIP Portal entry lapses and Deem to Satisfy recognition stops, so aim to renew before the expiry date rather than after.

Does renewing one SSIP scheme keep my Deem to Satisfy valid?

Renewing your base SSIP scheme keeps you eligible for Deem to Satisfy, but any deemed certificate you hold with another scheme expires in step with the original — so you'll need to re-issue those after you renew. See SSIP mutual recognition explained.

How early can I renew my accreditation?

You can usually start before the current certificate expires; 4–6 weeks ahead is a common rule of thumb, which avoids any gap in cover.