Energy Performance Certificates

What is an Energy Performance Certificate?
What else does the certificate do?
Does everyone need an EPC?
How do you get an EPC?
Energy Performance Certificates on Existing Dwellings
Energy Performance Certificates on New Dwellings
Home Information Packs
Display Energy Certificates for Public Buildings

What is an Energy Performance Certificate

The Energy Performance Certificate  (EPC) gives home owners, tenants and buyers information on the energy efficiency of their property. It gives the building a standard energy and carbon emission efficiency grade from ‘A’ to ‘G’, where ‘A’ is the most efficient and 'G' is the least.
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What else does the certificate do?

EPCs are measured using the same calculations for all homes, so you can compare the energy efficiency of different properties.

Part of the EPC is a report which will list the potential rating that your home could achieve, if you made the recommended changes. The report lists:

  1. suggested improvements (such as fitting loft insulation)
  2. the approximate cost of making these improvements
  3. possible cost savings per year if the improvements are made
  4. how this would change the energy and carbon emission rating of the property

You can use this information to:

  1. cut your fuel bills 
  2. improve energy performance in your home  
  3. help cut carbon emissions 
  4. help you choose a more energy efficient home to rent or buy

You do not have to act on the recommendations contained in the recommendation report. However, if you decide to do so, then it could make your property more attractive for sale or rent by making it more energy efficient.
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Does everyone need an EPC?

The EPC is required by law when a building is constructed, sold or put up for rent.

  • Sellers or buyers of homes
    All sellers of homes need to ensure that they provide a Home Information Pack which includes an EPC for potential buyers.
    An EPC must be made available to a potential homebuyer – free of charge.

  • Builders
    An EPC needs to be provided to buyers of newly built properties.

  • Landlords
    If you are a landlord, you’ll need to make an EPC available to prospective tenants the first time you let a home after 1 October 2008. An EPC is only required for a property which is self-contained, and is valid for 10 years.
    An EPC isn’t required when a tenant rents a room and shares facilities.

  • Tenants
    If you are interested in renting a property then an EPC must be made available to you free of charge. An EPC is only required for a property which is self-contained, and is valid for 10 years.
    If you are a prospective tenant, an EPC isn’t required when you rent a room and share facilities.

  • If you are not in one of the above categories
    Even if you do not fall into the above categories, you can still apply for and receive an EPC. This may be because you want to know what the energy efficiency of your home is and implement improvements suggested by the recommendation report.
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How do you get an EPC?

EPCs can only be produced as a result of a survey by an ‘accredited’ Domestic Energy Assessor. We hold the necessary accreditation for new and existing domestic properties.
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Energy Performance Certificates on Existing Dwellings

We will need to come and carry out a brief survey of your property.  This should not take more than one hour but we will need access to any roof spaces.

We will collect standard information on the property – for example, its size and hot water/heating systems. The information is then fed into a government-approved software programme which produces the Energy Performance Certificate

The price will depend upon the size and location of the property, prices start at £50 + VAT.  Please contact us for a quote,  we will need to know how many rooms the property has and your post code to enable us to quote.
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Home Information Packs (HIP)

Where we have been commissioned to provide the Energy Performance Certificate we can provide the full Home Information Pack.  Prices start at £200 which include the cost of producing the Energy Performance Certificate
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Display Energy Certificates for public buildings

From October 2008, owners of all Commercial Buildings also have to provide an EPC when they buy, sell or let their premises.  We do not provide these but our associate company Air Testing South West  will be pleased to provide you with a quote for this.
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