What is an EPC

The EPC is a document which must be commissioned if you want to either sell or let your commercial or residential property, and provided, when requested, to a potential buyer or tenant. As of the 30th June 2011 holiday let properties will require an EPC. There are some exclusions to this, and these include:

• buildings which are used primarily or solely as places of worship;
• temporary buildings with a planned time of use of two years or less, industrial sites, workshops and non-residential agricultural buildings with low energy demand;
• stand-alone buildings with a total useful floor area of less than 50m2 which are not dwellings.

And for holiday let properties these include:

• When the customer is being sold a holiday rather than letting a specific property, then you do not require an EPC.

The EPC document shows the current energy efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions of the property, by displaying the results on a graph. The graph also shows potential ratings if energy saving measures were to be put in place (Jump to: Energy Saving Measures).

The rating measures the energy and carbon emission efficiency of the property using a grade from ‘A’ to ‘G’. An ‘A’ rating is the most efficient, while ‘G’ is the least efficient. The average efficiency grade to date is 'D'.

A Domestic EPC, which is what it is usually referred to in the industry, is the type of EPC which has to be commissioned on residential properties and also will include holiday let properties.

A Non-Domestic EPC is an EPC which has to be commissioned for commercial properties, excluding public buildings. Public buildings require a Display Energy Certificate (DEC) every 12 months.

You are allowed to provide your EPC to your prospective buyer or tenant by electronic means, however if your prospective buyer or tenant does not consent to providing it electronically then you may have to provide a hardcopy.

When providing information about the property...
The law states that if you wish to provide other information about your property, for example:

• a photograph of the building or any room in the building;
• a floor plan of the building; or
• a description of the size of the rooms in the building,

Then you must attach a copy of the energy performance certificate, and it must include an asset rating. An asset rating is the chart which details the CO2 emissions of the property on a A-G scale.

When do I not require an energy performance certificate (EPC)?
You do not require an EPC if you are selling or renting a building and you can show that either the property is fit for demolition or redevelopment. Evidence for this maybe; relevant planning permissions, listed building consents, and conservation area consents.

A building, other than a dwelling, does not require an EPC if the buyer or tenant can show that it is being sold or rented with vacant possession, or again if it is suitable for demolition or redevelopment, or you believe that the buyer or tenant is going to demolish the building.

Undertaking an EPC
An EPC must be produced by an energy assessor qualified to undertake the required EPC. All energy assessors by law must be a member of an accreditation company. To make sure that your energy assessor is accredited just ask for their accreditation number.

An EPC should take between 30-45 minutes as an industry standard. An energy assessor will need to look at certain areas of the property, and note down criteria on a document called an rdSAP form (domestic) or SBEM form (commercial). This will include:

• details about the boiler and heating system
• details about  any accessible roof voids
• a count of the number of light fittings
• a measurement of the thickness of any loft insulation
• windows (see if there is any double glazing)
• brick work (to see if there is any cavity wall insulation)

An energy assessor must take photos of those particulars mentioned above in order to prove that the property has what will be disclosed on the EPC. The photos may also be requested together with the forms by the accreditation company. When complete, your EPC will be lodged on a government database, by law, and will subsequently be given a unique 8-digit reference number. Your EPC will be kept on this database for around 20 years and it must not be altered at all within this period.

Your actual EPC will be valid for a 10 year period of which then you will be required to commission a new EPC. However government legislation may change and this period maybe reduced to 3 years.

Is there a fine for not having an EPC?
Yes. If you do not have an EPC and are required by law to have an EPC,  trading standards can enforce a penalty charge notice. This currently stands at £200 for dwellings and for non-dwellings a maximum of £1000.

Who is responsible? : Up to 1st July 2011, the landlord is responsible for ensuring the EPC is undertaken. However after the 1st July 2011, both the estate agent and landlord will be responsible for ensuring the regulations are complied with.

The new 1st July 2011 rules
From the 1st July 2011, all properties being sold or rented which currently do not have an energy performance certificate, must ensure that an EPC is ordered before the property is put on the market, or within 7 days.  Both the estate agent and landlord will now be responsible parties.

hPASS have many years experience in providing Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs). We are recognised as being one of the UKs largest independent supplier of Energy Perfomance Certificates and have undertaken over 4,000 rental assessments. You can be assured that you will receive a high standard and honest service.

We can supply your EPC in most places within England and Wales, offering piece of mind and satisfaction.

For more information or to enquire more, please call 0845 26 96 106, or fill in our online form, by clicking here