Need an EPC in Forest Hill?

Fixed Price EPC – only £69

EPC

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We Are EPC Assessors covering the Forest Hill 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 Forest Hill 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?

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EPC refers to 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 suggestions about energy improvements which can be made in the home that could help to lower 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 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 will be looking for what’s called a SAP EPC. This kind of EPC is produced along with SAP calculations to show that building work has met certain standards required by the building regulations. If you’re unsure, 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 accredited domestic energy assessor. The Assessor must go to property to get the necessary information.

The assessor will take dimensions of the property and also obtain specifics of the current lighting, heating, glazing and present insulation. A normal size home will take between 20 and 30 minutesto do..

The obtained information then input approved government software which then creates the EPC. The Energy Performance Certificate will be lodged on the national EPC register and you will receive it by email typically in 2 to 3 days. However, if you need to have your EPC urgently, for a small additional charge, we can produce an EPC for you on the same day of the visit. We call this an express EPC.

That’s it, its all doneYour 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.

Tips On How To Improve Your EPC Rating

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

Image of an EPC energy rating

These will improve your EPC rating

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The data entered into the software is based on proof which the Assessor collects during the visit. Typically the Assessor can get almost all the information whilst going around the property.

The Assessor has to take photographic or obtain documentary information which is important for audit reasons. If no proof is obtained then the Assessor must enter the term “as built” into the software. In cases like this the software will use what the property would have been built with determined by it’s age.

Whenever you can provide documentary proof of these kinds of improvements then these can be shown on the Certificate and is likely to increase the rating of your EPC.


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

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

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

• Loft extensions year it was built – completion certificate, 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

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The 3 mains things that have the most significant 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 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 example a property or home heated by gas would cost you around 4.64 pence per kwh and the similar property or home heated by bottled LPG 23p per kwh. {*source 2019 Nottingham Energy Partnership.} So using a typically semi-detached using around 12,000 kwh to heat the home, it would cost you £696 to heat by gas compared to £2,760 for bottled LPG.. Therefore running costs affects the Energy Performance rating rating. 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
This particular one may come as a bit of a shock, but upvc 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 as mentioned before. Where it will have a more substantial impact, is when your property is upgraded from single glazing to double glazing. If you are changing from pre 2002 upvc 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 experienced by the customer in terms of comfort from a reduction in draughts. Because the EPC doesn’t take into account the condition of any particular item, this comfort gain is not measured.

 

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

Forest Hill Landlord EPC Services

The rules for landlords are forever increasing. For anybody who is a landlord, ensure that you don’t fall foul of the laws, as civil fees and penalties as high as £5,000 may be issued.

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

Letting agent handing over key

EPCs And Rental Properties

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As From April 2020, all current rented properties should have a valid EPC. Prior to that date an EPC was only required on new rentals. Penalties and fees can 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 need to be a minimum of an E. The regulations that regulate this is known as The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard or (MEES) for short. For additional 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. 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

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The Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government have for the past ten years kept a register of all EPCs. This register can be found at www.epcregister.com. You should check here to see if your properties have a valid Certificate and determine that they meet at least the required E rating.

A recently available report in the Telegraph taken from information on the register found out that around 250,000 investors are yet to conform to the new rules. This article can be found here. Make sure you are not one of them. As time goes by, we expect an increasing number of Councils to get up to speed with enforcements.

These regulations, nevertheless, are not intended 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 you are taking or have taken steps to get to an E. Even if it doesn’t achieve an E, there are certain 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 Properties Are Exempt From Requiring An EPC?
  • Residential buildings that are used for less than 4 months of the year.
  • Stand-alone buildings (of less than 50 m2 )
  • Industrial sites and non-residential agricultural buildings that use little energy.
  • Places of worship.
  • Temporary buildings that will be used for less than two years.
  • Listed buildings.
  • Are You Able To Let A Property Without Having An EPC?
    The answer is No. From April 2020 all rental properties 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 most efficient) to G 0 ( the least efficient). The rating of an typical UK property is a D60 Rental properties have to be a minimum of an E rating. If it is not an E then the landlord will have to undertake some of the recommendations on the EPC to improve the rating. If an E rating can not be attained, then an exemption can be applied for by going to 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 rates the property from A, the highest to G, the worst. Properties rated F or G, from April 2020, cannot legally be let. Energy-efficient improvements will have to be made, or a valid exemption applied for.
    What Is The Fine 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 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 An EPC Fail?
    No. The EPC is not a pass or fail. However, different 3rd parties may require the EPC have a certain rating before they decide to proceed. One example would be a bank loaning funds against a rental property, would 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 to be able to rent out. Also, it is becoming the standard requested by financial institutions when loaning funds against a property.

    It’s not to say you won’t be able to borrow the funds if it is below an E, however there are more likely to be extra conditions in the contract.

    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 above. All EPCs are lodged on a national register at epcregister.com. The EPC will be valid for a further ten years.
    Is An EPC A Legal Requirement?
    Indeed, an EPC is a legal requirement for all rental properties and properties that are for sale as well as all newly built properties. Legally, the inbound resident must be provided with 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 defined in the database of Historic England as a listed building. The list can be located 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 time period of 8 weeks would need to pass before applying for a section 21 notice.

    Besides the EPC the tenant will 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 paperwork is given to the courts correctly.

    Can A Property Be Marketed With No EPC?
    Yes a property can be marketed without an EPC subject to one having been requested to be done within 7 days. If after making all reasonable attempts one can not be done within that timeframe, then a further 21 days is permitted to obtain one.
    Is An EPC A Legal Requirement When Renting?
    From April 2020, all properties for rental 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.
    Do You Know The Cost Of An EPC?
    The cost of an EPC is typically in the range of £50 – £120. This depends upon size of property and location. Usually it is cheaper if going directly to an approved Assessor as opposed to through a 3rd party such as an Estate Agent or a marketing company.
    Like it or loath it Forest Hill is definitely an appealing place to live and work. Personally, we love it and are delighted to be one of the leading EPC services in the area
    What Customers Are Saying

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

    Serving The Forest Hill Area

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    Call Us

    0800 0467 345