Energy Performance Certificates. Commercial and domestic EPCs

Domestic EPCs

From 1st October 2008 Energy Performance Certificates are required for all residential properties if you are:

Selling – All sellers of homes need to ensure that they provide a Home Information Pack which includes an EPC for potential buyers before marketing of their property begins.

An EPC contained within a Home Information Pack is valid for 3 years.

Renting – All landlords need to provide an EPC and recommendation report free of charge to prospective tenants the first time they let or re-let a property after 1 October 2008. The EPC must be available no later than:

When written information about the building is provided on request
When a viewing is conducted
Before entering into a contract to let

An EPC for rented property is valid for ten years.

Building – All builders of newly built property need to provide an EPC when a home is constructed and physically completed. This will also apply if a building is modified.

If the completed home is being advertised for sale, the EPC is available to include in a Home Information Pack for potential buyers for the next 12 months.

Predicted Energy Assessment

If you are selling a home before it has been built, you will need to provide information about energy efficiency in a Predicted Energy Assessment (PEA).

This is simply the predicted SAP and Environmental Impact (CO₂) rating you do at the design stage to check whether you will meet energy-saving targets.

Home Information Packs (HIPs)

Why do I need a HIP? - all domestic properties (with few exceptions) marketed for sale require a complete Home Information Pack. This provides basic information about the property, including the EPC and a Property Information Questionnaire, and is designed to aid buyers in making an informed choice about a property they may be interested in buying, particularly before they incur costs.

What goes in a HIP? - only the recognised mandatory and optional documents can be included in the HIP:

Index
Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ)
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
Sale Statement summarising the terms of sale
Evidence of title

All of the above documents must have been ordered and paid for, or a commitment to pay made, before marketing can begin.

If the following documents are not available at that time, then they must be included in the HIP as soon as possible and at most, within 28 days of the first point of marketing.

Standard Searches
A copy of the Lease (where applicable)
Documents showing proof of title (unregistered properties only)

Currently, the only optional document that can be added to the HIP, is the Home Condition Report (HCR) which can only be produced by a licensed Home Inspector. We will be happy to undertake this report for you for which an additional charge will be made. Please contact us for further details.

How do I order a HIP? - An essential part of the HIP is the Property Information Questionnaire. This can be completed online after your order has been processed or you can complete a written copy if you prefer. If you choose the latter option, please download a copy of the Property Information Questionnaire, and contact us by telephone or email using the information at the foot of this page. We will guide you through the rest of the straightforward ordering process. The cost of the EPC is included in these figures.

Our pricing structure is as follows:

Freehold property - £225 + VAT
Leasehold property - £255 + VAT
Unregistered property - add £75 + VAT to the above

Additional costs - The HIP will be provided electronically. Printed copies can be supplied at a cost of £20 + VAT per copy. If a property is discovered to be leasehold or unregistered after the HIP has been ordered, the purchaser will be liable for additional fees to cover the appropriate level of documentation required. Once the HIP has been ordered and paid for, it cannot be cancelled.

What is assessed for an EPC?
The property is measured to calculate the volume, including any extensions. Assessment is made of the construction type, together with any insulation (wall and loft). The type of heating and controls (programmers/ thermostatic radiator valves etc) are also assessed. The assessor will calculate the proportion of energy efficient lighting and double-glazing installed.

To assist with the energy inspection, the owner should try to provide any documents (planning permission/building regs approvals; guarantees; boiler/insulation/double-glazing installation documentation etc) which will enable accurate dating of these elements to be recorded.

The results of the inspection are entered onto a software programme which performs various calculations to produce the EPC Energy Efficiency and Environmental Impact ratings. These results are displayed on bar graphs, similar to those used on new domestic appliances. The report also produces some recommendations which can be implemented to improve these ratings.