Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are documents that establish the energy efficiency of a property. An EPC will rate your home on a scale from A to G – with A being the very most energy efficient. The point of an EPC is to highlight how much money it will cost to power a property on average. These certificates should also point out where there is room for improvement, how much these improvements would cost, and the potential savings they could generate for homeowners. In our blog today, we will be going into a little more detail about EPCs, providing you with all the information you need to know.
Is It a Legal Requirement to Have an EPC?
If you are planning on selling or renting out your property, you will need to acquire an EPC. They are a legal requirement in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Anybody caught without one could be fined around £5,000. However, if you are using either a letting agent or estate agent to sell/rent, they should sort out an EPC for you. Furthermore, your property must have an EPC rating of E or above to be sold/rented out. Landlords who sign up new tenants or renew existing contracts with an insufficient EPC rating will be penalised.
How Do You Acquire an EPC?
If you are using a letting agent or an estate agent to sell/rent out your property, then they will normally complete this at the same time as Home Report but it can be expensive. If you are selling/renting out your property independently, you will need to hire an accredited energy assessor from the local area. They investigate your home for you, conducting all the necessary checks before drafting the EPC documents. As we are accredited energy assessors, we offer these services to our customers here at CMS Surveyors.
What Are the Main Benefits of Having an EPC?
Energy performance certificates aren’t just a legal requirement for landlords or homeowners selling their property. Sometimes they can be required when accessing grant funding for energy efficiency upgrades. They can also be very beneficial for several different reasons. For starters, EPCs highlight the average amount of money it takes to power a property. This information is immensely helpful for people who want to know how much it costs to live in their home. Furthermore, EPCs often suggest where improvements to the property’s energy efficiency can be made. With this knowledge, homeowners can go about saving money (and the environment) in the long term. Finally, a good EPC rating is a massive selling point when it comes to offering out your property.
How Long Do EPCs Last For?
Your energy performance certificate is valid for 10 years after you receive it. During this timeframe, you can use the EPC however much you want but if there are any changes to the makeup of the property, then it might need updated. Just ensure that ,even if you have one within 10 years, you keep updating it as you improve the windows, insulation, heating systems or any other improvements like extensions as this will change the performance of the property.
That’s pretty much everything you need to know about EPCs. Before selling or renting out your property, make sure your certificate has not expired or if you require funding and need a pre or post install EPC, contact CMS Surveyors today. We are accredited domestic energy assessors and can complete this energy efficiency report for you with due diligence.