Need an EPC in Bletchley?

Fixed Price EPC – only £69

EPC

our services

We Are EPC Assessors covering the Bletchley 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 Bletchley is £69.

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.

What is An EPC?

More Info
EPC is short for Energy Performance Certificate. It’s a 3 to 5 page report that rates the property from an A the highest to G the worst. It will give advice on energy improvements that may be made in the home that could help to reduce your energy bills.

Why You Need One

More Info
{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 of the above examples refer to existing residential properties. If you have been requested by building control to provide an EPC in conjunction with recent building work, they are looking for what’s called a SAP EPC. This sort of EPC is called a SAP EPC and is necessary for building control to demonstrate compliance with building regulations for any recent development work you have undertaken. Should you require a SAP EPC, then CLICK HERE. If you’re uncertain, just phone us for more advice.

How To Get One Done

More Info
An Assessor must undertake a visit to the property to obtain the necessary data for the Energy Performance Certificate. They are certified and must be a continuing member of an approved Government accreditation scheme.

The assessor will take dimensions of the property and also gather information regarding the current lighting, home heating, glazing and existing insulation. It may take anywhere between 20 and 40 minutes, dependant upon the complexity of the home..

The details are then input approved government software which creates the certificate. The EPC Certificate will then be lodged on the national EPC register and you will receive it by email typically in a couple of days. However, should you require your EPC quickly, for a small 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 completedYour EPC is then valid for 10 years.

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.

How You Can Improve Your EPC Score

Here we will provide you with some simple guidelines to ensure that your Energy Performance Certificate reflects your property in the best light.

Image of an EPC energy rating

These will enhance your EPC score

More Info
The information put into the software is based on proof that the Assessor gathers during the visit. In most cases the Assessor can get most of the information whilst going around the property.

The Assessor must take photographic or gather documentary evidence which is required for audit purposes. If no proof is obtained then the Assessor must enter the term “as built” in to the software program. In such a case the software will use what the property would have been built with based on it’s age.

If you can provide documentary evidence of these sorts of improvements then these can be shown on the Certificate and will likely help the rating of your EPC.


• Any type of wall insulation Internal/Cavity/External– Any guarantees, or receipts from the installer

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

• Sloping ceiling insulation/ floor insulation – receipt from contractor showing thickness fitted.

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

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

These make the biggest difference

More Info
The 3 mains things that have the biggest impact on the energy rating are:


• The levels of insulation in the property.
• The heating system.
• The main source of fuel for heating 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 property heated by gas would cost around 4.64 pence per kwh and the same property heated by bottled LPG 23p per kwh. {*source 2019 Nottingham Energy Partnership.} So using a typically semi using in the region of 12,000 kwh to heat the property, it would cost £696 to heat with gas as compared to £2,760 for bottled LPG.. Therefore running costs influences the EPC score. Higher costs equals lower ratings.

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

More Info
Double glazing
This one may come as a shock, but double glazing does not have as big an impact on the EPC as most people would imagine. Certainly not as much as the heating, the insulation and the type of fuel used as earlier mentioned. However, where it can have a more substantial impact, is if the property is upgraded from single glazing to double glazing. When you are updating from pre 2002 double glazing, to current double glazing, this will only show as a small rise in the energy rating of the home.

With double glazing the perception is generally felt by the customer in terms of comfort from a decrease in draughts. Because the EPC doesn’t consider the condition of any particular item, this comfort gain is not recorded.

 

Low Energy Lights
Again low energy lighting does indeed help the EPC since they are an affordable improvement that leads to reduced energy costs but nowhere near the same contribution as insulation, heating and heating controls.

Bletchley Landlord EPC Services

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

Take a look at our guidelines for quick information. We provide discounts for a number of properties.

Letting agent handing over key

EPCs And Rental Properties

More Info
As From April 2020, all existing rental properties must have a valid Energy Performance Certificate. Before that date an EPC was only needed on new rentals. Fines can be issued by the local authority for breach of this.

What Is The Minimum Rating For A Rental Property

More Info
An EPC rates the property from an A, the very best, to a G the lowest. To legally rent a property, the energy rating must be not less than an E. The policies that regulate this is known as The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard or (MEES) for short. For more information on MEES check out the government website for landlord guidance.

If your property is currently an F or G it cannot legally be let on a new rental. Should there be an existing tenant in the property and the rating is lower than an E, then the landlord needs to do something 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 past ten years maintained a register of all EPCs. This register is available at www.epcregister.com. You can check here to find out if your rentals have a valid Certificate and determine that they meet at least the minimum E rating.

A recently available article in the Telegraph taken from information on the register discovered that around 250,000 landlords are yet to comply with the new regulations. This article is available here. Ensure you are not among them. Over time, we expect an increasing number of Local Authorities to get up to speed with enforcements.

The regulations, having said that, are not intended to be onerous. The initial step to take is to get an EPC lodged on the register and should it be below an E, to show that you are taking or have taken steps to get to an E. Even if it doesn’t attain an E, there are specific exemptions that you could then be able to apply for. We can provide expect guidance on every aspect 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 Are Exempt From Needing An EPC?
  • Places of worship.
  • Industrial sites and non-residential agricultural buildings that use little energy.
  • Temporary buildings that will be used for less than two years.
  • Stand-alone buildings (of less than 50 m2 )
  • Listed buildings.
  • Residential buildings that are used for less than 4 months of the year.
  • Are You Able To Let A Property Without An Energy Performance Certificate?
    No. From April 2020 all rental homes must have a valid EPC recorded on the EPC register. To legally rent a property the energy rating of the EPC has 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). An average UK property is a D60. Rental properties should be a minimum of an E rating. If it is not an E then the landlord would have to carry out some of the recommendations on the EPC to lift the rating. If an E rating cannot be reached, then an exemption can be applied for by going to the Government website and applying for an exemption on the PRS register.

    What Is The Minimum EPC rating to Let A Property?
    The minimum EPC rating for rental is an ‘E’. The EPC scores a property from A, the highest to G, the worst. Properties rated F or G, from April 2020, cannot legally be let. Energy Efficient upgrades will have to be made, or a valid exemption applied for.
    What Is Penalty For Not Having An EPC?
    A set penalty charge of £200 may be issued for failure to comply in the following circumstances: on sale or rent the vendor or landlord failed to make a valid domestic EPC available free of charge to the prospective buyer or tenant at the earliest opportunity.
    Can You Fail An EPC?
    No. The EPC is not a pass or fail. However, various 3rd parties may require the EPC achieve a certain score before they decide to proceed. An example would be a financial institution lending money against a rental property, would require that the EPC is at least an “E”.
    What Does EPC E Mean?
    The Energy Performance Certificate will rate your property either A,B,C,D,E,F, or G. An E rating is the legal minimum a dwelling can be in order to rent out. It is also getting to be the standard requested by banking institutions when lending money against a home.

    It’s not saying you won’t be able to borrow the funds when it is below an E, but there are more likely to be additional conditions in the arrangement.

    What Happens If An EPC Runs Out During A Tenancy?
    It would simply have 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 above. All EPCs are lodged on a national register at epcregister.com. The EPC is valid for a further ten years.
    Is An EPC A Legal Requirement?
    Yes, an Energy Performance Certificate is a legal requirement for all rental properties and homes that are being sold as well as all newly built properties. Legally, the inbound resident must be given an EPC.
    Are All Listed Buildings Exempt From An EPC?
    All listed properties 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 is available on the historic england website.
    Can You Evict A Tenant Without An EPC?
    If the tenancy started or was renewed after 1 October 2015, a landlord cannot evict using a section 21 notice (no fault eviction) if they have not provided the tenant with an EPC. If an EPC is subsequently obtained, a period of 8 weeks needs to pass before applying for a section 21 notice.

    Besides the Energy Performance Certificate the tenant would have had to be also provided with a gas safety certificate and 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 to ensure all records is given to the courts correctly.

    Can You Market A Home With No EPC?
    Yes a property can be advertised without having an EPC but only subject to one having actually been requested to be carried out within seven days. If after making all realistic attempts one cannot be obtained within that timeframe, then a further 21 days is permitted to acquire one.
    Is It A Legal Requirement For An EPC When Renting?
    From April 2020, all properties for rental will need to have a valid EPC on the EPC register. The EPC rates the energy efficiency of a home from A-G. For rental, the EPC has to be a minimum rating of an E, unless a valid exemption has been applied for.
    How Much Will An EPC Cost
    An Energy Performance Certificate typically costs between £50 – £120. This depends on size of property and location. Typically it will be cheaper if going directly to a licensed Assessor as opposed to through a 3rd party such as an Estate Agent or a marketing company.
    Some people love Bletchley, others don’t. We certainly adore it. It’s a fantastic place to live and work and has quite a few interesting things in the area. We endeavor to be the top rated EPC company serving the neighbourhood.
    What Customers Are Saying

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

    Serving The Bletchley Area

    Contact

    EPCHOME WEBSITE

    OWNED BY ENERGYSMART BEDFORD

    Call Us

    0800 0467 345