EPC Advice

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR ALL LANDLORDS. NEW LEGISLATION REGARDING ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATES FROM 1ST OCTOBER 2008.

As from 1st October 2008, all rental properties in England and Wales will be required to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) prior to marketing.

The good thing is that these certificates will remain valid for 10 years, however, tenants will be able to see, at a glance, how energy efficient and environmentally friendly your property is! The report will give you the current ratings and the recommendations for improving the property in order to lower the running costs and CO2 emissions, in other words to help the environment.

Of course, it is another expense to consider at the outset of renting your property, but, in the long run, this legislation is designed to encourage people to consider their carbon footprint and, surely, that cannot be a bad thing.

For Landlords who have been trying to sell and are now considering the rental option, you would already have an EPC as part of your HIP. However, if you don’t have one organised and are marketing or considering marketing your property for rent, please call us to organise one or you could end up losing valuable marketing time while waiting on your certificate to come through.

Energy Performance Certificates EPC Certificate
The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) gives home owners, tenants and buyers information on the energy efficiency of their property. It gives the building a standard energy and carbon emission efficiency grade from ‘A’ to ‘G’, where ‘A’ is the best and with the average to date being D/E.

What else does the certificate do?
EPCs are measured using the same calculations for all homes, so you can compare the energy efficiency of different properties. Part of the EPC is a recommendation report which will list the potential rating that your home could achieve, if you made changes.

The report lists improvements that you could carry out and how this would change the energy and carbon emission rating of the property. You can use this information to:

cut your fuel bills
improve energy performance in your home
help cut carbon emissions

Does everyone need an EPC?

The EPC is required by law when a building is constructed, sold or put up for rent.
So you will only need a certificate if you are:

A landlord – You will need to provide an EPC which will be valid for ten years, to prospective tenants, the first time you let or re-let your property after 1 October 2008

A homeowner – All sellers of homes need to ensure that they provide a Home Information Pack which includes an EPC for potential buyers

A builder – An EPC needs to be provided to buyers of newly built properties from 6 April 2008

Even if you do not fall into the above category, you can still apply for and receive an EPC.

Will EPC's be needed across the UK?

EPCs only apply to England and Wales. Northern Ireland and Scotland are producing their own regulations.

How do you get an EPC?

EPCs can only be produced as a result of a survey by an ‘accredited’ Domestic Energy Assessor. They are used to collect standard information on the property including its size, how it is constructed and its hot water and heating systems. The information is then fed into a government approved software programme which produces the EPC.
How much will it cost?

The price of an EPC is set by the accredited organisations which issue them. It is approximately £70.

How long will it take to get one?

Obtaining an EPC for an average sized home is likely to take the same time as that for a house valuation report which has to be prepared when a property is put up for sale. The exact time will vary from property to property.

The recommendation report which will give you information about:

suggested improvements (such as fitting loft insulation)
the approximate cost
possible cost savings per year if the improvements are made

You do not have to act on the recommendations contained in the recommendation report. However, if you do decide to do so, then it could make your property more attractive for sale or rent by making it more energy efficient. You will also contribute to cutting carbon emissions.