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We Are EPC Assessors covering the Colne 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 Colne 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 is short for Energy Performance Certificate. It’s a three to five page report which rates the home from an A the highest to G the lowest. It will provide recommendations on energy improvements which might be made in the home that would help to reduce your energy bills.

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 of 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 produced along with SAP calculations to show that building work has met specified standards required by the building regulations. If you’re uncertain, just phone us for further guidance.

How To Get One Done

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An Assessor must carry out a visit to the property to get the necessary data for the Energy Performance Certificate. They are certified and must be a continuing member of an approved Government certification scheme.

The Assessor will take dimensions of the property as well as gather information about the existing lighting, heating, glazing and current insulation. It takes anywhere between 20 and 40 minutes, depending upon the complexity of the home..

The details are then entered into approved government software which then creates the certificate. The EPC Certificate is then lodged on the national EPC register and you should receive it by email typically in 2 to 3 days. In the event you need it urgently, for a small additional charge, we are able to arrange for you to get it the same day.

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 Enhance Your EPC Score

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

Image of an EPC energy rating

These things will improve your EPC rating

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In most cases your Assessor can obtain a lot of the information they require by just going around the property. The data entered into the software is based on evidence gathered during the visit.

What we need to avoid is the Assessor putting into the software the term “as built” for items that are required where no proof is obtained. When the term “as built” needs to be used then the program will default to the worst case scenario based on what would have been there when the property was built. This could have a negative effect on the {rating of the EPC}

Whenever you can supply documentary evidence of any of these sorts of improvements then these can be shown on the EPC and will probably enhance the rating of your EPC Certificate.


• Any wall insulation Internal/Cavity/External– Any guarantees, or invoice from the installer

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

• Floor insulation/ sloping ceiling insulation – receipt from installer showing thickness installed.

• Loft conversions year it was built – building control sign off, dated architectural drawings.

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

These make the biggest difference

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The 3 mains things that have the most significant effect 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 homes 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 instance a home heated by gas would cost you around 4.64 pence per kwh and the identical home heated by bottled LPG 23p per kwh. {*source 2019 Nottingham Energy Partnership.} So using a typically semi-detached which uses in the region of 12,000 kwh to heat the property, it would cost you £596 to heat by gas in comparison to £2,760 for bottled LPG.. Therefore running costs impacts the Energy Performance rating rating. Higher costs equates to 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
This particular one will come as a bit of a surprise, but double glazing does not have as major an effect on the EPC as most people would imagine. Certainly not as much as the heating, the insulation and the type of fuel used in the property as mentioned before. Where it will have a larger effect, is when the house is up-graded from single glazing to double glazing. When you are updating from pre 2002 double glazing, to current double glazing, it will only show as a small rise in the energy rating of the home.

With double glazing the perception is normally noticed by the customer in terms of comfort from a decrease in draughts. Because the EPC doesn’t take into account the condition of any specific item, this comfort gain is not recorded.

 

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

Colne Landlord EPC Services

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

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

Letting agent handing over key

EPCs And Rental Properties

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From April 2020, all existing rental properties need to have a valid Energy Performance Certificate. Before that date an Energy Performance Certificate was only necessary on new rentals. Fines 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 property from an A, the very best, to a G the lowest. To legally rent a property, the energy rating needs to be at the least an E. The regulations that control this is called The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard or (MEES) in short. For additional info 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 needs to take measures 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 managed a register of all EPCs. The register is found at www.epcregister.com. You can check here to see if your rentals have a valid EPC and determine that they meet at least the required E rating.

A recent post in the Telegraph taken from information on the register discovered that around 250,000 landlords are yet to conform to the new rules. The information is available here. Make sure you are not one of those. As time passes, we anticipate more and more local authorities to get up to speed with enforcements.

The rules, however, are not meant 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 currently taking or have taken steps to attain an E. Even if it doesn’t achieve an E, there are specific exemptions that you might then be able to apply for. We can provide expect advice 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.
What Properties Do Not Require An EPC?
  • Temporary buildings that will be used for less than two years.
  • 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.
  • Places of worship.
  • Stand-alone buildings (of less than 50 m2 )
  • Can You Let A Property Without An Energy Performance Certificate?
    No. From April 2020 all rental homes need to have a valid EPC registered 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 most efficient) to G 0 ( the least efficient). The average UK property is a D60. Rental properties must be at the least 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 improve the rating. If an E rating can not 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 rates a property from A, the highest 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 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 You Fail An EPC?
    Simply no. The EPC is not a pass or fail. However, different 3rd parties may require the EPC have a specified rating before they choose to continue. One example might be a bank lending money against a rental property, might require that the EPC is at least an “E”.
    What Does EPC E Mean?
    The Energy Performance Certificate 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. It is also becoming the baseline requested by banking institutions when lending money against a property.

    It’s not to say you won’t be able to obtain the funds when it is below an E, however there will probably be added conditions 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 will need to have a valid EPC of at least an E rating or over. 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?
    Yes, an Energy Performance Certificate is a legal requirement for all rental properties and homes which are for sale as well as all newly built properties. By law, the inbound occupant has to be given an EPC.
    Are All Listed Buildings Exempt From An EPC?
    All listed properties are exempt from needing an EPC. A listed building is one as being described in the database of Historic England as a listed building. A list can be found 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 given the tenant an Energy Performance Certficate. If an EPC is subsequently obtained, a time period of 8 weeks needs to pass before applying for a section 21 notice.

    Besides the Energy Performance Certificate the tenant will 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 proper legal advice so that all paperwork is given to the courts correctly.

    Could You Market A Home Without Having An EPC?
    Yes a property may be advertised without an EPC but only subject to one having actually been planned to be done within seven days. If after making all reasonable attempts one can not be done within that period, then a further 21 days is permitted to get one.
    It Is A Legal Requirement For Renting, To Have An EPC?
    Since April 2020, all dwellings 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 has to be a minimum rating of an E, unless a valid exemption has been applied for.
    Do You Know The Price Of An Energy Performance Certificate?
    The price of an Energy Performance Certificate is normally in the range of £50 – £120. This is dependent upon size of property and location. Typically it is cheaper if going directly to an approved Assessor as opposed to using a 3rd party for instance an Estate Agent or a marketing company.
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