Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

From the 21 May 2010 you do not have to purchase a Home Information Pack when you put a property on the market. However, you can still provide one if you want to.

You will still need to provide an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and you have to have commissioned this before putting your home on the market, but you don’t have to have received it before marketing can commence.

(1) WHAT ARE ENERGY PERFOMANCE CERTIFICATES?

EPC’s give information on the energy efficiency of your home and how this can be improved and carbon dioxide emissions reduced. This information is summarised into charts that look similar to those supplied with electrical appliances.

(2) WHAT INFORMATION DO THEY PROVIDE?

EPC’s contain information on your home’s energy use and carbon dioxide emissions together with suggestions as to how energy use and CO2 emissions might be reduced. The EPC uses ratings to compare your homes current energy efficiency and CO2 emissions with the maximum potential figures that could be achieved if all energy saving measures were to be put in place. The grades used range from A to G with an A rating being the most efficient and all homes are measured using the same calculations so that easy comparisons can be made.

The EPC comes with a Recommendation Report highlighting what the owner could do to help reduce energy use and CO2 emissions. For example this might recommend fitting loft insulation and it illustrates how implementing the recommendations might change the EPC rating of the property.

(3) WHICH BUILDINGS NEED AN EPC AND WHEN?

An EPC is required when a building is built, rented or sold and if it uses energy to condition the indoor climate. This effectively means if it has heating, air conditioning or some form of mechanical ventilation then an EPC will be required.

(4) WHICH BUILDINGS DO NOT NEED AN EPC?

A number of property types are excluded from the legislation. These include places of worship, temporary buildings that will be used for less than two years, commercial premises, agricultural buildings that do not use much energy and stand alone buildings with a total useful floor area of less than 50sq. metres That do not provide residential accommodation.

(5) COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

Owners of all commercial buildings also have to provide a Commercial EPC when they sell or let commercial premises. Drew Pearce is happy to advise our clients’ as to how these legislative requirements affect them.

(6) HOW DO I GET AN EPC?

An EPC is provided by an Energy Performance Assessor and the cost of this can vary. Drew Pearce will be happy to make the necessary arrangements for you or to simply put you in touch with reliable Energy Performance Assessors.