|
Whether you are a home seller, and in future, conduct property
lettings, you must have a valid Energy Performance Certificate when
you sell your home, or let your home. We have compiled a register of
independent accredited EPC providers who are licensed to carry out
EPC Surveys, a listing is provided below, you can select to find a
EPC provider in your local area.
What are Energy Certificates?
An EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) provides a rating for your home in its present condition and
also a rating for its potential if certain energy saving
improvements are undertaken. The overall assessment is based on a
sliding scale of A to F, where A is the highest level (i.e. most efficient) and G (less
energy efficient). To simplify the
rating scales a similar method to that used for home appliances
(e.g. fridges, freezers etc) was adopted.
Who can issue a Domestic Energy Assessment?
A qualified Domestic Energy Assessor is responsible for the issue of
and EPC or Energy Performance Certificate for Domestic premises and
in the case of a Commercial
EPC a qualified Commercial Buildings Assessor.
EPC Data Collectors
Under recent guidelines from CLG (Communities and Local Government)
a qualified Domestic Energy Assessor must
visit the premises to ensure that the data and fulfilments of the EPC
are met. Otherwise the EPC will be invalid. This validity also
applies to Commercial
& Landlord
and Rented premises. A data
collector for domestic properties or commercial properties cannot
issue an Energy Performance Certificate for your property. Check
that the assessor visiting your premises is authorised to issue your
Energy Certificate.
Typical ratings are shown below for home assessment.
There are many factors to consider when calculating the ratings for
an EPC for every home, as each house is different.
|
|
The basic criteria for energy assessment include:
Building Construction
Age of construction
Number of windows and type
Volumetric calculation of all floors
Method of heating and controls used
Levels of insulation (lofts and walls)
Thermal properties of adjacent buildings
Heat losses
Fixed lighting efficiency
Renewable energy sources i.e. solar
panels, domestic wind
turbines for example.
The factors detailed above are noted, and, using computer software
an overall rating can be obtained, together with
recommendations for improvement where required. |
Once completed, the EPC can be delivered to the homeowner, and/or,
their representative, for inclusion in the home information pack
(HIP). A unique reference number is applied to every Energy
Certificate and the assessor can supply a web address so that you
can view your EPC online. Remember it is better to instruct a local
independent domestic energy assessor, the energy certificate remains
your property, as you purchased it, therefore you own it. If you
instruct an estate agent to act on your behalf to compile your Home
Information Pack, the same rule applies. Instruct an independent
Home Pack Provider, this will ensure that all the documentation
belongs to you - the home seller. A listing of independent providers
is available, refer to Home
Information Packs.
How long is an EPC valid for?
The EPC is valid for as long as the new homeowner remains in
the property before moving again, or in the case of the same
property coming back on the market again in the future, then another assessment would be required,
commercial buildings certificates, and private rented
property and accommodation, are valid for 10 years from the date of
the original 's EPC inception date, more information about Commercial
Buildings Energy Assessment and how this will affect property
managers.
Landlords and Tenants
Currently a landlord who rents a property to a tenant can
voluntarily carry out an assessment for the production of an
EPC on the property that they own.
From October 2008 it will be mandatory for an assessor to
conduct a survey of the rented property for the production of an EPC.
The landlord/owner of the property would
bear the cost of the EPC. Estimates suggest that there are approx.
2.5 million homes in the rental sector which would be affected by
this legislation.
When buildings are to be rented out, the landlord is responsible for ensuring a valid certificate is made available to all prospective tenants.
Validity & Issue
Of Certificates
When the construction of a new building is completed, the builder or person responsible for the construction is responsible for obtaining the certificate and providing it to the owner.
|
An Energy Performance Certificate is only required when a building is constructed, sold or rented out. An
EPC is valid for 10 years for rental purposes, except for sales of homes.
The EPC and recommendation report must be made available free of charge by the seller or a landlord to a prospective buyer or tenant at the earliest opportunity and no later than:
When any written information about the building is provided in response to a request for information received from the prospective buyer; or
when a viewing is conducted; or
If neither of those occur, before entering into a contract to sell or let.
An energy performance certificate does not have to be made available if:
The seller believes that the prospective buyer or tenant is unlikely to have sufficient funds to purchase or rent the property or is not genuinely interested in buying or renting that type of property; or
The seller or landlord is unlikely to be prepared to sell or rent out the property to the prospective buyer or tenant.
In addition, please
refer to EPC Frequently Asked Questions FAQs
relating to Social Housing, Student Housing & Accommodation, and
Housing in Multiple Occupation as a Guide to whether an EPC is
required to be produced. For all other cases an EPC will almost
certainly be required. See also Landlord
EPC for exemptions for rented property.
Timescale
Homes will require an EPC on rent from 1 October 2008.
Commercial buildings > 10000m2 will require an EPC on rent from 6 April 2008 and all remaining commercial buildings will require an EPC on rent from 1 October 2008.
Some types of property are exempt from HIPs and EPC’s see HIP
Exemptions.
Commercial
EPC Commercial
Energy Performance Certificates - Further details about
the implementation of display energy certificates for public
buildings and Commercial, Industrial property and buildings.
What is a SAP
Rating?
Find out more about the ratings system applied to residential
property and home energy certificates, find ways to improve your
energy rating for your house before an inspector visits your home.
Simple measure can improve cost effective with a short payback time.
Find out more about: cavity wall
insulation, loft insulation and
heating and boiler controls
improvements. How can I improve my
rating?
Consider improvements to your property - Find out more about cavity
wall insulation, loft insulation
and heating and boiler controls
improvements to your home, including energy
saving tips and advice. If you are a commercial or business
energy user find out more about switching your energy supplier for a
cheaper rate at : Switch
Energy Suppliers for Gas
and Electricity.
Also find out ways to reduce your energy costs for commercial energy
users at Business
Energy Saving. Facts about improving Energy Efficiency of your
Home read articles about:
Renewable
Energy Sources:
Carbon Footprint
Facts about your home's environmental impact and ways to reduce your
CO2 Emissions and reduce costs.
Snagging
New build property inspections defects checklist, applicable to new homes.
Snagging inspectors help new home owners
to get repairs and defects fixed by housing development builders.
HCR
Home Condition Report (HCR) - Property Sellers Information about
optional Home Condition Reports
Commercial EPC Energy
Performance Certificates - Further information about commercial
property and buildings energy ratings sector.
EPC
FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions, the facts surrounding energy
certificates for the private residential property Landlord
with answers to common questions for Landlords
and Home Owners considering letting their property for rent.
EPC - Energy Performance Certificates Providers England &
Wales (Home & Domestic)
Avon | Bristol
| Bedfordshire | Berkshire
| Buckinghamshire | Caernarfonshire
| Cambridgeshire | Cheshire
| Cleveland | Clwyd
| Cornwall | Cumbria
| Denbighshire | Derbyshire
| Devon | Dorset
| Durham | East
Midlands | East
Sussex | Essex | Flintshire
| Glamorgan | Gloucestershire
| Gwent | Hampshire
| Herefordshire
| Hertfordshire | Humberside
| Isle of Wight
| Kent | Lancashire
| Leicestershire | Lincolnshire
| London | Manchester
| Merseyside | Middlesex
| Montgomeryshire
| Newcastle | Norfolk
| North Wales | North
Yorkshire | Northamptonshire | Northumberland
| Nottinghamshire
| Oxfordshire | Shropshire
| South Wales | South
Yorkshire | Somerset | Staffordshire
| Suffolk | Surrey
| Sussex | Tyneside
| Warwickshire | West
Midlands | Wiltshire | Worcestershire
| Wrexham | West
Sussex | West
Yorkshire | Yorkshire
EPC - Energy Performance Certificates Providers Scotland (Home & Domestic)
If you reside in Scotland
and are looking for an EPC
Energy
Performance Certificate for property in this region there is a
register of DEA
Domestic
Energy Assessors www.energyperformancecertificatesscotland.co.uk
EPC - Energy Performance Certificates Providers Northern Ireland (Home & Domestic)
If you reside in Northern
Ireland and are looking for an EPC
Energy
Performance Certificate for property in this region there is a
register of DEA
Domestic
Energy Assessors available for local inspectors providing
residential EPC's.
Advice -
Use an independent EPC provider for your estimate or quote for an
Energy Certificate, you may well find that is a cheaper solution and
a low cost alternative for an EPC, other than using an estate agent,
or panel representative for your quotation. Further links to EPC
providers
|
|
