EPC Ashley

by | May 10, 2020

Need an EPC in Ashley?

Fixed Price EPC – only £69

Call Free (0800) 0467 345
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We Are EPC Assessors covering the Ashley area

If you’re renting, selling, or applying for a re-mortgage, you’ll need an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) carried out by an approved Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA).

The typical price of an EPC in Ashley is £69.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK ONLINE

WHY USE US AS YOUR EPC PROVIDER?

  • No complicated price variations of property types and rooms.
  • No misleading “from” prices.
  • No waiting for an Assessor to call you back.
  • No filling in long complicated forms before you get a quote.
We also cover these nearby areas: Corby, Rothwell, Kettering, Broughton, Wellingborough, Southfields, Queens Park, Rushden, Duston, Upton

What is An EPC?

More Info
An EPC is a legal report that gives advice on energy saving measures that can easily make a home more cost-effective to run. EPC is short for Energy Performance Certificate. Much the same as the energy rating seen on appliances, it will give the property a rating between an A (100) to a G (0). An average UK property is rated at a D60.

Why You Need One

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{There are various reasons that you may be asked to provide an EPC. The most common of these are if you are selling a property or if you are renting a property. It is a legal requirement that an EPC is given to the other party.}.

• For a remortgage
• Making a claim for funding under the Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (RHI)
• Getting grant funding through the Energy Company Obligation Scheme (ECO)

All the above examples refer to existing residential properties. If you have been asked by building control to produce an EPC in conjunction with recent building work, they will be looking for what’s called a SAP EPC. This type of EPC is called a SAP EPC and is required by building control to demonstrate compliance with building regulations for any recent construction work you have undertaken. Should you require a SAP EPC, then CLICK HERE. If you’re not sure, just contact us for more guidance.

How To Get One Done

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An EPC is carried out by a professional and approved domestic energy assessor. The Assessor must visit the property to get the required information.

The assessor will take dimensions of the home plus gather information about the current lighting, heating, glazing and present insulation. A typical size property will take between 20 and 30 minutesto do..

The information is then input approved government software which generates the EPC. The EPC will then be lodged on the national EPC register and you should receive it by email typically in 2 to 3 days. However, if you need your EPC quickly, for a modest additional fee, we will produce an EPC for you on the same day of the visit. We call this an express EPC.

That’s it, its all completed. Your EPC is then valid for 10 years.

LANDLORDS - ARE YOU UP TO DATE?
Booking your EPC is easy:

  1. Click the BOOK ONLINE button below
  2. Select an available date and time slot
  3. Give us your name and the address requiring the EPC
  4. Pay securely online or pay on the day
  5. If you prefer you can always call us to book. Call free on 0800 046 7345

That’s it, your EPC is booked. You will receive an email confirmation and a text reminder a day before the visit. Your EPC will be emailed to you in 2 or 3 days. If you order an Express EPC, you will receive it the same day of the visit.

You can cancel with a full refund if you cancel within 24 hours of the visit.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK ONLINE
Call Free 0800-0467-345

How You Can Enhance Your EPC Score

Here we will give you some easy tips so your EPC shows your home in the very best light.

Image of an EPC energy rating

These will improve your EPC rating

More Info
The information entered into the software is based on proof which the Assessor gathers during the visit. Typically your Assessor will get almost all the information whilst going around the home.

The Assessor must take photographic or gather documentary information which is necessary for audit purposes. If no proof is gathered then the Assessor has to enter the term “as built” into the software program. In this case the software will use what the property would have been built with determined by it’s age.

Whenever you can provide documentary proof of any of these kinds of improvements to the property then this can be shown on the EPC and will probably help the rating of your EPC Certificate.


• Double glazing improvements to the majority of the property – Fensa certificate, or dated receipt from the installer.

• Any type of wall insulation Cavity/Internal/External– {guarantee, or receipt from installer.}.

• Solar PV or Solar Thermal – MCS certificate from contractor.

• Sloping ceiling insulation/ floor insulation – receipt from installers showing thickness installed.

• Roof conversions year it was built – building control sign off, dated architects plans.

These make the biggest difference

More Info
The three things that have the main effect on the energy rating are:


• The heating system.
• The main source of fuel for heating the property
• The levels of insulation in the property.

Main Source of Fuel
UK properties are generally heated by either of these kinds of fuel sources: gas, peak rate electric, off peak electric, oil, bulk or bottled LPG. So for example a home heated by gas would cost you around 4.64 pence per kwh and the identical home which is heated by bottled LPG 23p per kwh. {*source 2019 Nottingham Energy Partnership.} So using a typically semi which uses in the region of 12,000 kwh to heat the property, it would cost you £696 to heat by gas in comparison to £2,760 for bottled LPG.. Therefore running costs influences the Energy Performance rating rating. Higher costs equates to lower scores.

Levels Of Insulation
Good levels of insulation ensures that the demand on the heating system is kept down, and it also results in a more comfortable home with lower running costs.

The Heating System
An efficient heating system with good controls such as room thermostat, thermostatic valves and programmer helps to keep energy bills down. This all contributes to a better rating on the EPC.

These make less difference

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Double glazing
Although improvements to the double glazing will make a difference, the most significant difference is only really achieved if you are upgrading from single glazing to doubled glazing. If you are simply upgrading from pre 2002 double glazing, it will only show as a modest improvement in the energy rating of the property. With double glazing the perception is generally felt by the customer in terms of cosiness from a decrease in draughts. As the EPC doesn’t consider the condition of any specific item, this kind of comfort gain is not measured.

 

Low Energy Lights
Again low energy lighting does help the Energy Performance Certificate as they are an affordable improvement that makes a contribution to lower energy costs but nowhere near the same contribution as insulation, heating and heating controls.

Ashley Landlord EPC Services

The regulations for property owners are forever increasing. For anyone who is a property owner, make sure that you don’t fall foul of the laws, as civil penalty charges as much as £5,000 could be issued.

Look at our guidelines for quick advice. We also provide reduced prices for multiple properties.

Letting agent handing over key

EPCs And Rental Properties

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As From April 2020, all existing rental properties must have a valid EPC. Previous to that date an Energy Performance Certificate was only necessary on new rentals. Penalties may be issued by the local authority for violation of this.

What Is The Minimum Rating For A Rental Property

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An EPC rates the home from an A, the very best, to a G the lowest. To legally rent a property, the energy rating has to be at least an E. The policies that control this is called The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard or (MEES) in short. For additional information on MEES go to the government website for landlord guidance.

If your property currently is an F or G it cannot legally be let on a new rental. If there is an existing tenant in the property and the rating is lower than an E, then the landlord has to take steps to get the rating up to an E.

How To Find If You Have A Valid EPC

More Info
The Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government have for the last 10 years managed a register of all Energy Performance Certificates. This register can be found at www.epcregister.com. You can check here to find out if your rentals have a valid EPC and determine that they meet at least the minimum E rating.

A recent post in the Telegraph taken from information on the register found that around 250,000 investors are yet to comply with the new regulations. The information can be found here. Make sure you are not one of those. As time goes by, we anticipate an increasing number of Local Authorities to get up to speed with enforcements.

These rules, nevertheless, are not intended to be onerous. The initial step to take is to get an EPC lodged on the register and should it be lower than an E, to show that you are taking or have taken actions to get to an E. Even if it doesn’t achieve an E, there are specific exemptions that you could then be able to apply for. We can give you expect guidance on all aspects of MEES.

SAP Calculations

If you require a SAP EPC for building control please CLICK HERE.

Here we will answer your most common questions asked about the EPC.
Which Properties Do Not Need To Have An EPC?
  • Residential buildings that are used for less than 4 months of the year.
  • Places of worship.
  • Temporary buildings that will be used for less than two years.
  • Industrial sites and non-residential agricultural buildings that use little energy.
  • Stand-alone buildings (of less than 50 m2 )
  • Listed buildings.
    • Are You Able To Let A Property Without An EPC?
    No. From April 2020 all rental properties must have a valid EPC registered on the EPC register. To legally rent a property the energy rating of the EPC needs to be at least an “E”, or the property must have a valid exemption.

    The EPC rates a property from A 100 (the best) to G 0 ( the least efficient). The rating of an typical UK property is a D60 Rental properties need to be at least an E rating. If it is not an E then the property owner will have to carry out some of the recommendations on the EPC to improve the rating. If an E rating can not be achieved, then an exemption can be applied for by visiting the Government website and applying for an exemption on the PRS register.

    Is There A Minimum EPC rating to Let A Property?
    Dwellings rented out in the private market will be required to possess an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) with a minimum energy performance rating of ‘E’. It will be illegal to rent out a dwelling which does not have a minimum E rating unless the property has an exemption.
    What Is Penalty For Not Having An EPC?
    A fixed penalty charge of £200 may be issued for failure to comply in the following circumstances: on sale or rent the owner or landlord failed to make a valid domestic EPC available free of charge to the would-be buyer or tenant at the earliest opportunity.
    Can An EPC Fail?
    Simply no. The EPC is not a pass or fail. Nevertheless, various 3rd parties may require the EPC achieve a specific rating before they choose to continue. One example might be a financial institution loaning money against a rental property, would require that the EPC is at least an “E”.
    What Does EPC E Mean?
    The EPC will rate your property either A,B,C,D,E,F, or G. An E rating is the legal minimum a dwelling can be for you to rent out. It is also getting to be the standard required by financial institutions when loaning money against a property.

    It’s not saying you won’t be able to obtain the money when it is below an E, but there will probably be extra conditions in the arrangement.

    What Happens If An EPC Runs Out During A Tenancy?
    It will simply need to be renewed. Under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard, all rental properties will need to have a valid EPC of at least an E rating or higher. All EPCs are lodged on a national register at epcregister.com. The EPC is good for a further 10 years.
    Is An EPC A Legal Requirement?
    Indeed, an EPC is a legal requirement for all rental properties and properties that are being sold as well as all newly built properties. By law, the inbound resident need to be given an EPC.
    Are All Listed Buildings Exempt From An EPC?
    All listed buildings are exempt from requiring an EPC. A listed building is one as being identified in the database of Historic England as a listed building. The list can be found on the historic england website.
    Can You Evict A Tenant Without An EPC?
    If the tenancy commenced or was renewed after 1 October 2015, a landlord cannot evict using a section 21 notice (no fault eviction) if they have not given the tenant an Energy Performance Certficate. If an EPC is subsequently obtained, a time period of 8 weeks would need to pass before applying for a section 21 notice.

    As well as the EPC the tenant would have had to be also provided with a gas safety certificate and also a copy of the government guide “How to rent”. The “How to Rent” guide can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-rent

    Landlords are always advised to get proper legal advice so that all documentation is presented to the courts correctly.

    Can A Home Be Marketed Without An EPC?
    Yes a property may be marketed without having an EPC but only subject to one having been requested to be carried out within seven days. If after making all realistic attempts one can not be acquired within that timeframe, then a further 21 days is allowed to obtain one.
    Is An EPC A Legal Requirement When Renting?
    Since April 2020, all properties for rental need to have a valid EPC on the EPC register. The EPC rates the energy efficiency of a property from A-G. For rental, the EPC needs to be a minimum rating of an E, unless a valid exemption has been applied for.
    How Much Does An Energy Performance Certficate Cost
    The cost of an EPC is generally in the range of £50 – £120. This depends on size of property and location. Typically it will be cheaper if going straight to an approved Assessor rather than using a 3rd party such as an Estate Agent or a marketing company.
    {Ashley sometimes gets bad press.} However, we believe it’s not really justified. It’s a fantastic place to operate and live and are extremely pleased to be an EPC provider in the area.
    What Customers Are Saying

    Moving Home, Letting A Property, Local Estate Agents, We’re Here To Help

    Serving The Ashley Area

    CLICK HERE TO BOOK ONLINE
    Call Free 0800-046-7345
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    0800 0467 345

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