When would you need an EPC?
If you are selling or renting out your home then as a general rule you will need an EPC. If the home is new, if you are a landlord showing the home to prospective renters or you are selling the home altogether then it is your responsibility to provide an EPC.
If you’re renting out a room in your house then you don’t need one and also some listed buildings may be exempt, but you would have to enquire on an individual basis.
The requirement for having an EPC has been the law in England since 2009, which means if you have let or sold a property in that time the property should have one. They are valid for 10 years.
If you want to see the Energy Performance Certificate for your property, you can find it at the national EPC Register.
Do you need one to rent or buy a property?
No, you should never be charged for an EPC if you are renting or buying a property, they should always be made available to you and they should always be free of charge. Failure to provide an EPC on request can lead to a £200 fine to the seller or landlord.
If you are selling a property or renting one out, you will need to have the certificate ready or at least prove it has been ordered before the property goes onto the market. Remember that EPCs are valid for 10 years so the previous one may still be valid.
How much does an Energy Performance Certificate cost?
The price of the EPC will vary according to a number of factors including where you are in the country or how large your house or flat is. EPC Bromley charges a standard flat rate for any properties up to five bedrooms in size. We then charge a supplement for any rooms over and above five, as well as for any extensions or loft conversions the property may have.
The reason for charging a supplement for extensions is that they would be subject to different building regulations to the main part of the house. In effect some parts of the EPC would need to be done twice.
What information does an EPC give you?
- Energy efficiency rating – There will be two ratings, Potential and Current. Both scores are out of a hundred, one tells you the total your home could achieve, the other tells you what it currently achieves. These scores are translated into seven letters, A-G. In the UK the average is a score of 60 which is a ‘D’ rating.
- Estimated cost to run your home – The current costs alongside the costs that you could be achieving.
- Summary of energy saving features – Lists features in your home, such as walls, windows, lofts and boilers and rates them as to how energy efficient they are.
- What can be done to improve the energy efficiency – A list of measures that will improve the energy efficiency of your home. How much they cost and the effect on your rating.
Who can produce an EPC?
Only an accredited domestic energy assessor can produce an EPC. These can be provided by an estate agent but are often twice the price than if you go direct to one such as EPC Bromley. The EPC Register will also list qualified assessors in your area.