What is an EPC?

---

 An EPC is an Energy Performance Certificate that contains information about a property’s energy efficiency. It rates the property from A to G, with A being the most energy efficient and G being the least.

EPC surveys are carried out by EPC assessors in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Once completed, your Energy Performance Certificate is valid for 10 years.

You must have an EPC if:

• you rent out or sell the premises
• a building under construction is finished
• there are changes to the number of parts used for separate occupation and these changes involve providing or extending fixed heating, air conditioning or mechanical ventilation systems

 You don’t need an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) if you can demonstrate that the building is any of these:

• listed or officially protected and the minimum energy performance requirements would unacceptably alter it
• a temporary building only going to be used for 2 years or less
• used as a place of worship or for other religious activities
• an industrial site, workshop or non-residential agricultural building that doesn’t use much energy
• a detached building with a total floor space under 50 square metres
• due to be demolished by the seller or landlord and they have all the relevant planning and conservation consents

You can be fined between £500 and £5,000 based on the rateable value of the building if you don’t make an EPC available to any prospective buyer or tenant.

An EPC gives a clear view of a property’s energy efficiency. If you’re a homebuyer you must make sure the seller has a valid and up to date EPC rating. A better rating could be attractive for a potential buyer or tenant, whereas a lower one indicates that the property could incur higher energy bills. 

If you’re thinking about buying or renting, you can check the current rating of the property on the EPC register.

If your property has a low EPC rating, there are things you can do to help you move up the table. Alongside the rating, your certificate will show the maximum potential rating your property could reach by making impactful changes. This gives you a good indicator of the difference you could make by investing in some energy efficient upgrades.

Here are some tips to improve your rating:

• Install a more energy efficient boiler
• Insulate the walls and roof
• Upgrade your lighting to LED light bulbs
• Invest in double or triple glazed windows

What happens during the assessment?

During the visit to your property your assessor will need access to all rooms and area's throughout your home including loft space, boiler area and also your utility meters.

It's also helpful if you can make available any certificates you may have for relevant improvements to the energy efficiency of your property including cavity wall certificatation, solar schematics and any guarantee's or warranties you may have.