Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) have been a legal requirement since 1st October 2008. Landlords and sellers have to provide an EPC when they put their property on the market for renting or selling and it must be available for all prospective buyers and tenants free of charge at the earliest opportunity. This should be when they are first provide with the written information on your property or when they arrange a viewing. EPC’s last 10 years, however, if you have carried out works to the property and have a new certificate commissioned this will supersede the previous one. An EPC is not required for any property that has been occupied prior to 1st October 2008 and is continued to be occupied after this date by the same tenant.
An EPC is provide a rating for the energy performance of a home from A-G, where A is very efficient and G is very inefficient, this is similar to domestic appliances such as washing machines and refrigerators. The EPC shows 2 graphs – The energy efficiency rating (relating to running costs) and the Environmental Impact rating (relating to carbon monoxide emissions rating) for the property. The ratings are based on many factors of the property such as the age, property layout, construction heating, lighting and Insulation. The ratings are standard so the energy efficiency of one home can be compared to another. The average rating for a home is D or E.
With your certificate you will also receive a recommendation report, this provides details of any measures you can take to improve your homes energy performance. When providing the EPC the recommendation report must also be provided.
An EPC must be carried out by an accredited Domestic Energy Assessor or Home Inspector. Always check that any Domestic Energy Assessors are part of an accreditation scheme, as this ensures that the assessor is working to professional standards.
The EPC assessment involves the assessor inspecting and collecting information on your property. The assessor will need to access all rooms, the loft and the boiler of your property, they may also need to photographs of certain items and areas of the property. After the visit the assessor will generate the certificate by feeding the information they have retrieved from your property into a Government approved software programme which will then generate the ratings of your property and your recommendation report. Information collected about your property is protected under the Data Protection Act.
Who has access to the EPC Domestic Register?
Only those who will have the unique reference number on the EPC, the DEA’s accreditation scheme, the enforcement authorities, and on an anonymised basis the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Is it possible to advertise my property without an EPC?
An EPC should have been commissioned prior to the marketing of your property, as the EPC and recommendation report has to be available to all prospective tenants and purchasers at the time of viewings.
What happens if I need to get an EPC to market my property, but I would like to make improvements before the tenant moves in?
Either inform the tenant of the improvements and let them know this will improve the energy rating, or have a new EPC carried out before the commencement of tenancy.
Is an EPC required for a holiday let?
If the agreement between the parties is only a short period of holiday occupancy only and there is no intention to create the tenancy can be inferred, then tan EPC is not required.
Our staff will be pleased to discuss any of the regulations and agree the necessary arrangements with you. If you would like further information, please contact:
