Need an EPC in Central Milton Keynes?

Fixed Price EPC – only £59

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We Are EPC Assessors covering the Central Milton Keynes 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 Central Milton Keynes is £59.

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?

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EPC refers to Energy Performance Certificate. It’s a 3 to 5 page document which rates the property from an A the best to G the lowest. It will give recommendations on energy improvements that could be made on the home that will help to reduce your energy bills.

Why You Need One

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The most typical reason for requiring an EPC is for anyone who is selling or renting a home. It is because, legally, you must give the incoming occupant a valid Energy Performance. However you might be asked to obtain an EPC for some of these reasons..

• 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 produce an EPC in conjunction with recent building work, they are looking for what’s called a SAP EPC. This type of EPC is produced in addition to SAP calculations to show that building work has met specified standards required by the building regulations. If you’re uncertain, just give us a call for more advice.

How To Get One Done

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

The Assessor will take dimensions of the home plus collect information about the current lighting, heating, glazing and present insulation. It takes between 20 and 40 minutes, dependant upon the complexity of the home..

The information is then entered into approved government software which creates the EPC. The Energy Performance Certificate will be lodged on the national EPC register and you should receive it by email typically in a couple of days. However, should you require your EPC urgently, for a small additional fee, we can provide 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 ten 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 To Boost Your EPC Score

Here we will offer you some simple guidelines to ensure that your EPC reflects your property in the very best light.

Image of an EPC energy rating

These things will enhance your EPC rating

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In most cases your Assessor will obtain the vast majority of information they need simply by going around the home. The data entered into the software is based on evidence gathered during the visit.

The Assessor will take photographic or obtain documentary information that is required for audit purposes. If no evidence is obtained then the Assessor must enter the term “as built” into the software program. In this situation the program will use what the property would have been built with based on it’s age.

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


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

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

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

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

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

These make the biggest difference

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The three things that have the biggest impact 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 typically 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 house heated by gas would cost you somewhere in the region of 4.64 pence per kwh and the exact same house heated by bottled LPG 23p per kwh. {*source 2019 Nottingham Energy Partnership.} So using a typically semi using around 12,000 kwh to heat the home, it would cost you £596 to heat with gas in comparison to £2,760 for bottled LPG.. Therefore running costs impacts the Energy Performance rating rating. 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

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Double glazing
Although improvements to the double glazing will make a difference, the most significant increase is actually really achieved when upgrading from single glazing to doubled glazing. If you are modernising from pre 2002 upvc double glazing, this will only show as a small rise in the energy rating of the home. With upvc double glazing the perception is typically felt by the customer in terms of comfort from a decrease in draughts. Since the EPC doesn’t consider the condition of any specific item, this comfort gain is simply not measured.

 

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

Central Milton Keynes Landlord EPC Services

The regulations for property owners are forever increasing. For anybody who is a property owner, ensure that you don’t fall foul of the laws, as civil penalties up to £5,000 could be issued.

Take a look at our guidelines for quick advice. We provide discounts for several properties.

Letting agent handing over key

EPCs And Rental Properties

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From April 2020, all existing rented properties must have a valid EPC. Before that date an 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 must be a minimum of an E. The regulations that regulate this is called The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard or (MEES) for short. For more information on MEES visit the government website for landlord guidance.

If your property is currently 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 needs to take steps to get the rating up to an E.

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 Energy Performance Certificates. This register is found at www.epcregister.com. You should check here to see 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 found out 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 them. As time passes, we anticipate an increasing number of local authorities to get up to speed with enforcements.

These rules, having said that, are not meant to be onerous. The first step to take is to get an EPC lodged on the register and if it is less than an E, to show that you are currently taking or have taken steps to get to an E. Even if it doesn’t reach an E, there are certain exemptions that you might then be able to apply for. We can provide 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.
What Properties Do Not Need To Have An EPC?
  • Residential buildings that are used for less than 4 months of the year.
  • Stand-alone buildings (of less than 50 m2 )
  • 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.
  • Listed buildings.
  • Are You Able To Let A Property Without An EPC?
    No. From April 2020 all rental properties need to 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). An average UK property is a D60. Rental properties have to be at the least an E rating. If it is not an E then the property owner would need to undertake some of the recommendations on the EPC to raise the rating. If an E rating can not be achieved, 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 rates a property from A, the best to G, the lowest. Dwellings rated F or G, after April 2020, cannot legally be let. Energy-efficient improvements will need to be made, or a valid exemption applied for.
    What Is Penalty For Not Having An EPC?
    A fixed penalty charge of £200 may be issued for failure to comply in the following situations: on sale or rent the vendor or landlord failed to make a valid domestic EPC available free of charge to the potential buyer or tenant at the earliest opportunity.
    Can You Fail An EPC?
    Simply no. The EPC is not a pass or fail. Even so, different 3rd parties may require the EPC have a specified rating before they decide to continue. One example might be a financial institution lending money against a rental property, will require 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 in order to rent out. It is also getting to be the standard required by banking institutions when lending money against a home.

    It’s not to say you won’t be able to obtain the funds if it is below an E, however there will probably be additional conditions in the agreement.

    What Happens If An EPC Runs Out During A Tenancy?
    It will simply have to be renewed. Under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard, all rental properties 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 will be valid for a further 10 years.
    Is An EPC A Legal Requirement?
    Indeed, an EPC is a legal requirement for all rental properties and properties which are for sale as well as all newly built properties. Legally, the incoming occupant has to 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 described in the database of Historic England as a listed building. This list is available on the historic england website.
    Can You Evict A Tenant Without An EPC?
    If the tenancy began 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 the EPC is subsequently obtained, a period of 8 weeks has to pass before applying for a section 21 notice.

    In addition to the EPC 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 paperwork is given to the courts correctly.

    Can You Market A Home With No EPC?
    Yes a property may be advertised without an EPC but only subject to one having actually been booked to be carried out within seven days. If after making all reasonable efforts one can not be obtained within that period, then a further 21 days is allowed to acquire one.
    Is An EPC A Legal Requirement When Renting?
    Since April 2020, all properties for rental must have a valid EPC on the EPC register. The EPC rates the energy efficiency of a home from A-G. For rental, the EPC needs to be a minimum rating of an E, unless a valid exemption has been applied for.
    Just How Much Will An EPC Cost
    The cost of an EPC is typically in the range of £50 – £120. This will depend on the size of property and location. Typically it is cheaper if going directly to an accredited Assessor as opposed to using a 3rd party for instance an Estate Agent or a marketing company.
    Some people really like Central Milton Keynes, others don’t. We certainly adore it. It’s a great area to live and work and has many exciting things in the area. We aim to be the leading EPC company serving the neighbourhood.
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    Serving The Central Milton Keynes Area

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    0800 0467 345