Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) From Just £35 inc VAT

It is the Landlords responsibility to have a current EPC for a rental property. As of the 6th of April 2012, a valid EPC must exist or have been commissioned  BEFORE any property is advertised for sale or rent.

We can arrange for a Government Approved Energy Performance Certificate Inspection from Just £35 inc VAT, and a guarantee to complete all instructions within 48 hours.  All inspections are carried out by appointed Accredited Assessors. Evening and weekend appointments are also available.

Enter your details here to get your quote, if you then wish to book an appointment click ‘Book Now’.

What is an EPC?

The EPC records the energy efficiency of a property, providing a rating of the energy efficiency and carbon emissions of a building on a scale from A to G, where A is very efficient and G is very inefficient.

EPCs are produced using standard methods with standard assumptions about energy usage so that the energy efficiency of one building can easily be compared with another building of the same type. This allows prospective buyers, tenants, owners, and occupiers to see and compare information on the energy efficiency and carbon emissions from a building, so they can consider energy efficiency and fuel costs as part of their investment decision.

An EPC should always be accompanied by a recommendation report listing cost effective and other measures (such as low and zero carbon generating systems) to improve the energy rating of the building. The EPC also contains information about the rating that could be achieved if all the recommendations were implemented.

  • Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) have been required since 1st October 2008 where a building is constructed, sold or put up for rent and applies to all types of accommodation.
  • EPCs can only be prepared by an Accredited Domestic Energy Assessor.
  • EPCs are used to collect standard information on the property, for example, its size, hot water and heating system. The information compiled during the assessor’s survey is fed into a government approved software programme which produces the EPC.
  • An EPC is only required for a property which is self-contained and the EPC is valid for 10 years

Legislation for EPCs as of 6th April 2012:

An EPC should be made available within seven days of a property first coming on to the market.

It is now required, as a miminum, to provide a copy of the EPC graphs in any commercial media, including online property portals. At Rent From The Owner you can upload the graphs, or your whole EPC report to our website. If you would rather we uploaded your EPC just forward your property address and the 24-digit number that appears on the front page of the Energy Performance Certificate e.g. 1234-1234-1234-1234-1234  and we will upload the front page to your property advert for you.

Exemptions
There are, however, some exemptions for certain properties.

  • Any property  which is used or intended to be used for four months or fewer in a year (ie:holiday lets)
  • Any building under construction which is not yet completed
  • Any building which is due to be demolished

The latest changes to legislation now mean that protected buildings are no longer required to have an EPC where meeting minimum energy standards would unacceptably alter their character or appearance. (ie Old Properties)

Commercial Property EPC Exemptions:

You don’t need an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for your commercial property if you can demonstrate that:

  • the lease is only being renewed or extended
  • it’s a temporary building that will be used for less than 2 years
  • it’s a detached, non-residential building with a total floor space less than 50 square metres
  • the building is due to be demolished and there are relevant planning permissions as well as official consents if it’s a listed building or in a conservation area
  • it’s an industrial site, workshop or non-residential agricultural building that doesn’t use a lot of energy, eg it isn’t air conditioned
  • the property is being bought following a compulsory purchase order from the court
  • it’s a place of worship

An EPC must be available to any prospective tenant as early as possible.
In particular  your EPC must be made available when a prospective tenant requests information or asks to view the property. A copy must be handed over to the tenant before signing the tenancy agreement

Evidence of commissioning an EPC must be available on request to Trading Standards Officers (TSOs)
TSOs have the power to investigate, require the production of EPCs and serve penalty notices. The penalty is £200 for residential buildings. This now extends to checking that an EPC has been commissioned.

Are EPCs required across the UK?

EPCs are required in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. In Scotland, you must display the EPC somewhere in the property – eg in the meter cupboard or next to the boiler.