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We Are EPC Assessors covering the Great Linford 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 Great Linford 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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An EPC is a legal report that provides advice on energy saving actions that can easily make a home less expensive to run. EPC is short for Energy Performance Certificate. Much the same as the energy rating seen on home appliances, it will give the home a rating between an A (100) to a G (0). A typical UK property 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 of the above examples refer to existing residential properties. If you have been asked by building control to provide an EPC in conjunction with recent building work, they are looking for what’s called a SAP EPC. This kind 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 further guidance.

How To Get One Done

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

The assessor will take dimensions of the home plus obtain information about the present lighting, heating, glazing and current insulation. It takes anywhere 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 then 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 quickly, for a small additional fee, 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 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 Enhance Your EPC Score

Here we will offer you some simple guidelines so that your Energy Performance Certificate reflects your property 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 is able to get the vast majority of information they need by simply going around the home. 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 phrase “as built” for items which will be required where no evidence is obtained. If the term “as built” must be used then the program will default to the worst case scenario based on what would have been there when the property was built. EPC rating.

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


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

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

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

• Loft extensions year it was built – building control sign off, dated architects drawings.

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

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 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 example a property heated by gas would cost you around 4.64 pence per kwh and the exact same property which is heated by bottled LPG 23p per kwh. {*source 2019 Nottingham Energy Partnership.} So with a typically semi which uses in the region of 12,000 kwh to heat the home, it would cost you £696 to heat by gas in comparison 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 may come as a shock, but upvc double glazing does not have as big an effect on the EPC as most people would assume. Certainly not nearly 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 the property is upgraded from single glazing to double glazing. If you are upgrading from pre 2002 upvc double glazing, to current double glazing, this will only show as a small increase in the energy rating of the home.

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

 

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

Great Linford Landlord EPC Services

The regulations for property owners are forever increasing. If you are a property owner, make certain you don’t fall foul of the regulations, as civil penalties as high as £5,000 could be issued.

Have a look at our guidelines for quick advice. We also provide reduced prices for multiple properties.

Letting agent handing over key

EPCs And Rental Properties

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As From April 2020, all existing rented properties must have a valid Energy Performance Certificate. Previous to that date an EPC was only necessary on new rentals. Penalties may be issued by the local authority for breach of this.

What Is The Minimum Rating For A Rental Property

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An EPC rates the home from an A, the highest, to a G the lowest. To legally rent a property, the energy rating has to be at the least an E. The policies that control this is called The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard or (MEES) in short. For additional information 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. Should there be an existing tenant in the property and the rating is lower than an E, then the landlord has got to do something 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 last ten years managed a register of all EPCs. The register is found at www.epcregister.com. You can check here to find out if your properties have a valid Certificate and see that they meet at least the required E rating.

A recently available post in the Telegraph taken from information on the register discovered that around 250,000 landlords are yet to conform to the new regulations. The information can be found here. Make sure you are not among them. As time goes by, we anticipate an increasing number of local authorities to get up to speed with enforcements.

The rules, however, are not intended to be onerous. The 1st 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 taking or have taken steps to reach an E. Even if it doesn’t achieve an E, there are certain exemptions that you might then be able to apply for. We can provide expect advice 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.
Which Properties Do Not Need To Have An EPC?
  • Industrial sites and non-residential agricultural buildings that use little energy.
  • Temporary buildings that will be used for less than two years.
  • Residential buildings that are used for less than 4 months of the year.
  • Places of worship.
  • Stand-alone buildings (of less than 50 m2 )
  • Listed buildings.
  • Is It Possible To Let A Property Without An Energy Performance Certificate?
    The 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 most efficient) to G 0 ( the least efficient). The rating of an typical UK property is a D60 Rental properties need to be at least an E rating. If it is not an E then the property owner would need to carry out some of the recommendations on the EPC to improve 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 scores the property from A, the best to G, the worst. Dwellings rated F or G, after April 2020, cannot legally be let. Energy Efficient upgrades 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 circumstances: 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?
    No. The EPC is not a pass or fail. Nevertheless, various 3rd parties may require the EPC have a specified rating before they choose to proceed. An example would be a bank lending money against a rental property, will 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 for you to rent out. Also, it is getting to be the standard requested by banks when lending money against a home.

    It’s not to say you won’t be able to borrow the money when it is below an E, but there are more likely to be additional clauses in the contract.

    What Happens If An EPC Runs Out During A Tenancy?
    It would simply need 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 higher. 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 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 incoming occupant need to be provided with 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 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 began or was renewed after 1 October 2015, a landlord cannot evict with a section 21 notice (no fault eviction) if they have not provided the tenant with an Energy Performance Certficate. If an EPC is subsequently obtained, a period of 8 weeks would need 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 correct legal advice to ensure that all documents is given to the courts correctly.

    Can A Home Be Marketed Without An EPC?
    Yes a property may be advertised without having an EPC but only subject to one having actually been booked to be done within 7 days. If after making all realistic attempts one can not be acquired within that period, then a further 21 days is allowed to get one.
    It Is A Legal Requirement For Renting, To Have An EPC?
    Since 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.
    What Is The Cost Of An Energy Performance Certificate?
    The price of an Energy Performance Certificate is generally in the range of £50 – £120. This depends upon size of property and location. Usually it is cheaper if going straight to a licensed Assessor rather than via a 3rd party like an Estate Agent or a marketing company.
    We love Great Linford and we are pleased to be one of the better EPC providers in the region. {Get in touch.}
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    Serving The Great Linford Area

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    0800 0467 345