EPC Cambridge

by | May 10, 2020

Need an EPC in Cambridge?

Fixed Price EPC – only £69

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We Are EPC Assessors covering the Cambridge 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 Cambridge 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: Hilton, East End, St Ives, Broad Green, Colne, Royston, Huntingdon, Broughton, St Neots, Stratford

What is An EPC?

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An EPC is a legal report that gives recommendations on energy saving actions that can easily make a property more affordable to run. EPC is short for Energy Performance Certificate. Very much the same as the energy score seen on electrical home appliances, it will give the property a score between an A (100) to a G (0). A typical UK home 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 illustrations refer to existing residential properties. If you have been requested by building control to provide an EPC in conjunction with recent building work, they will be looking for what’s called a SAP EPC. This sort of EPC is produced in addition to SAP calculations to demonstrate that building work has met specified standards required by the building regulations. If you’re not certain, simply give us a call for further advice.

How To Get One Done

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An EPC is carried out by a qualified and accredited domestic energy assessor. The Assessor has to visit the property to obtain the required information.

The assessor will take dimensions of the home as well as gather specifics of the existing lighting, heating, glazing and present insulation. It may take between 20 and 40 minutes, dependant upon the complexity of the property..

The information is then input approved government software which then produces the EPC. The Certificate will 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 urgently, for a modest additional fee, we can produce an EPC for you the same day day of the visit. We call this an express EPC.

That’s it, its all done. 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 provide you with some basic tips so that your EPC reflects your property in the very best light.

Image of an EPC energy rating

These things will improve your EPC score

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The information put into the software is based on proof that the Assessor gathers during the visit. Typically your Assessor will get almost all of the information whilst going around the home.

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

If you can supply documentary evidence of these types of improvements to the property then these can be shown on the EPC and is likely to enhance the rating of your EPC.


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

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

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

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

• Roof extensions year it was constructed – completion certificate, dated architectural plans.

These make the biggest difference

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The 3 mains items that have the main impact on the energy rating are:

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

Main Source of Fuel
UK homes are typically heated by either of these fuel sources: gas, peak rate electric, off peak electric, oil, bulk or bottled LPG. So for instance a property or home heated by gas would cost somewhere in the region of 4.64 pence per kwh and the exact same property or home heated by bottled LPG 23p per kwh. {*source 2019 Nottingham Energy Partnership.} So with a typically semi-detached which uses around 12,000 kwh to heat the home, it would cost £696 to heat by gas compared to £2,760 for bottled LPG.. Therefore running costs impacts the Energy Performance rating score. Higher expenses 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

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

 

Low Energy Lights
Again low energy lights does indeed help the EPC because they are a low cost improvement that contributes to reduced energy costs but nowhere near the same contribution as insulation, heating and heating controls.

Cambridge Landlord EPC Services

The regulations for property owners are forever increasing. If you are a landlord, make sure that you don’t fall foul of the laws, as civil penalty charges of up to £5,000 could be issued.

Take a look at our guidelines for quick advice. We offer reductions for a number of properties.

Letting agent handing over key

EPCs And Rental Properties

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From April 2020, all existing rental properties should have a valid EPC. Previous to that date an EPC was only required on new rentals. Penalties and fees may be issued by the local authority for breach of this.

What Is The Minimum Rating For A Rental Property

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The Minimum Energy Efficiency Scheme (MEES) puts an onus on landlords to offer rented homes that meet a minimum standard of energy efficiency. All rented properties have to be at least an energy rating of an E. If it is an F or a G rating, then the landlord must take steps to attain the minimum.

This is where the landlord needs to work closely with the Energy Assessor to determine cost effective ways to achieve the standards.

When the landlord has invested up to £3500 and the property still doesn’t achieve an E, then the landlord can apply for an exemption. We’re happy to offer assistance all the way.

How To Find If You Have A Valid EPC

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The Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government have for the past 10 years kept a register of all EPCs. This register is located at www.epcregister.com. You can check here to find out if your rentals have a valid EPC and see that they meet at least the required E rating.

A recent report in the Telegraph taken from information on the register discovered that around 250,000 investors are yet to comply with the new regulations. This article is available here. Make sure you are not among them. As time passes, we anticipate a lot more Councils to get up to speed with enforcements.

The regulations, however, are not intended to be onerous. The first step to take is to get an EPC lodged on the register and should it be less than an E, to demonstrate that you are taking or have taken actions to get to an E. Even if it doesn’t reach an E, there are specific exemptions that you may then be able to apply for. We can provide expect recommendations 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.
What Dwellings Are Exempt From Needing An EPC?
  • Temporary buildings that will be used for less than two years.
  • Stand-alone buildings (of less than 50 m2 )
  • Places of worship.
  • Industrial sites and non-residential agricultural buildings that use little energy.
  • Residential buildings that are used for less than 4 months of the year.
  • Listed buildings.
    • Are You Able To Let A Property Without An EPC?
    The simple answer is 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 need to be at the least an E rating. If it is not an E then the landlord will need to carry out some of the recommendations on the EPC to increase the rating. If an E rating can not be reached, 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?
    The minimum EPC rating for rental is an ‘E’. The EPC scores the property from A, the highest to G, the lowest. Dwellings rated F or G, from April 2020, cannot legally be let. Energy-efficient upgrades will need to be made, or a valid exemption applied for.
    What Is The Fine For Not Having An EPC?
    A fixed penalty charge of £200 can be issued for failure to comply in the following instances: 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?
    No. The EPC is not a pass or fail. Having said that, various 3rd parties may require the EPC have a specified score before they choose to proceed. One example would be a bank loaning funds against a rental property, would require that the EPC is at least an “E”.
    What Does EPC E Mean?
    The EPC will rate the 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. Also, it is becoming the standard required by banks when loaning funds against a property.

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

    What Happens If An EPC Runs Out During A Tenancy?
    It will have to be renewed Under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard, all rental properties must 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 will be good for a further 10 years.
    Is An EPC A Legal Requirement?
    Indeed, an EPC is a legal requirement for all rental properties and homes which are being sold as well as all newly built properties. By law, the inbound occupant must be provided with 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 described in the database of Historic England as a listed building. This 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 with a section 21 notice (no fault eviction) if they have not given the tenant an EPC. If an EPC is subsequently obtained, a time period of 8 weeks needs to pass before applying for a section 21 notice.

    Besides the EPC the tenant would have had to be also provided with a gas safety certificate in addition to 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 correct legal advice to ensure that all documents is given to the courts correctly.

    Could You Market A Property Without Having An EPC?
    Yes a property may be advertised without an EPC subject to one having actually been commissioned to be done within 7 days. If after making all reasonable attempts one can not be acquired within that timeframe, then a further 21 days is allowed to obtain one.
    It Is A Legal Requirement For Renting, To Have An EPC?
    From April 2020, all dwellings for rental will 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 has to be a minimum rating of an E, unless a valid exemption has been applied for.
    How Much Does An EPC Cost
    The price of an EPC is generally in the range of £50 – £120. This depends upon size of property and location. Typically it is cheaper if going straight to a licensed Assessor as opposed to via a 3rd party for instance an Estate Agent or a marketing company.
    We love Cambridge and we are pleased to be one of the greatest EPC providers in the region. {Get in touch.}
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    Serving The Cambridge Area

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

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