Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs): A Short Guide
Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs): A Short Guide
If you are about to place a property on the market then you are legally obligated to commission an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). If you fail to obtain and produce an EPC for the property when required, you will face a substantial fine of up to £5000 and still be legally obliged to have the energy efficiency report produced. Estate Agents are also required to ensure that the EPC is produced prior to marketing the property and should market said property unless they have reasonable cause or proof that the client has commissioned an energy assessment of their property.
The Energy Performance Certificates were initially introduced as a legal requirement in the UK under the much criticised Home Information Packs (HIPs) which were introduced as part of the Housing Act of 2004. Even though the HIP was repealed in the Localism Act of 2011, the EPC has been maintained in an effort to improve the energy efficiency of housing in the United Kingdom. The EPC is still a requirement for all residential and commercial properties with the exception of:
- Places of Worship;
- Buildings intended for 2 years use or less;
- Unsafe properties violating Health and Safety Laws
- Properties scheduled for demolition
- Detached non-residential buildings under 50m2
When using Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs): A Short Guide, it is always advisable, however, to ensure your property is exempt before deciding not to commission the EPC in order to avoid what would be a potentially substantial fine.
The actual EPC assessment will need to be performed by a fully qualified assessor and will result in a report being produced that provides an energy efficiency rating for your property when compared to those of a similar size and type. This will take the form of a bar chart which rates properties from A to G with A being the most efficient and G the least efficient. There will also be several suggestions which would improve the rating in ways which will not place too much burden on the property owner. The certificate, once produced, must be handed over to the eventual purchaser or tenant when the property is sold or rented.
I hope Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs): A Short Guide, has been useful. In order to obtain your EPC, simply submit your job via our online form and My London Tradesmen will contact companies on your behalf. You will then be given up to 3 quotes, leaving you to make an informed decision regarding the best tradesman to employ based on the quotes you have received.
All of the tradesmen we use have received up to date training and are registered with all the necessary bodies. We only use reputable and trustworthy tradesmen.