Need an EPC in Greenwich?

Fixed Price EPC – only £59

EPC

our services

We Are EPC Assessors covering the Greenwich 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 Greenwich 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?

More Info
EPC is short for Energy Performance Certificate. It’s a 3 to 5 page document which rates the property from an A the highest to G the lowest. It will also provide recommendations on energy improvements which can be made in the property which would help to reduce your energy bills.

Why You Need One

More Info
The most frequent reason for needing an Energy Performance Certificate is for anyone who is selling or renting a property. It is because, by law, you will need to give the incoming resident a valid EPC. However you might be asked to get an Energy Performance Certificate 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 asked 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 type of EPC is called a SAP EPC and is required by building control to show compliance with building regulations for any recent construction work you have undertaken. If you need a SAP EPC, then CLICK HERE. If you’re uncertain, simply contact us for further guidance.

How To Get One Done

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

Your assessor will take dimensions of the home as well as obtain information about the present lighting, heating, glazing and existing insulation. A normal size property will take around 20 and 30 minutesto do..

The information is then entered into approved government software which produces the certificate. The Certificate is then lodged on the national EPC register and you will receive it by email typically in a couple of days. In the event you need it urgently, for a small additional cost, we can arrange for you to get it the same day.

That’s it, its all completedYour 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.

Tips On How To Boost Your EPC Rating

Here we will give you some easy tips so that your Energy Performance Certificate reflects your home in the best light.

Image of an EPC energy rating

These things will improve your EPC score

More Info
The data entered into the software program is based on evidence that the Assessor collects during the visit. In most cases the Assessor will get most of the information whilst going around the home.

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

Whenever you can supply documentary proof of these kinds of improvements then these can be shown on the EPC and will likely help the rating of your EPC.

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

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

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

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

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

These make the biggest difference

More Info
The 3 mains items that have the biggest effect 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 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 somewhere in the region of 4.64 pence per kwh and the exact same home which is heated by bottled LPG 23p per kwh. {*source 2019 Nottingham Energy Partnership.} So with a typically semi-detached using in the region of 12,000 kwh to heat the property, it would cost £596 to heat by gas in comparison to £2,760 for bottled LPG.. Therefore running costs affects the Energy Performance rating score. Higher costs equals lower scores.

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

More Info
Double glazing
This may come as a surprise, but double glazing does not have as big an effect on the EPC as most people would think. Certainly not as much as the heating, the insulation and the type of fuel used as previously mentioned. However, where it does have a more substantial impact, is if the house is up-graded from single glazing to double glazing. If you are changing from pre 2002 double glazing, to current double glazing, this will only show as a small increase in the energy rating of the property.

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

 

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

Greenwich Landlord EPC Services

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

Check out our guidelines for quick advice. We also offer reduced prices for a number of properties.

Letting agent handing over key

EPCs And Rental Properties

More Info
As From April 2020, all existing rental properties must have a valid Energy Performance Certificate. Before that date an EPC was only required on new rentals. Penalties can be issued by the local authority for violation of this.

What Is The Minimum Rating For A Rental Property

More Info
An EPC rates the home from an A, the very best, to a G the lowest. To legally rent a property, the energy rating need to be not less than an E. The policies 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 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 do something to get the rating up to an E.

How To Find If You Have A Valid EPC

More Info
The Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government have for the last ten years maintained a register of all EPCs. This register is located 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 recently available post in the Telegraph taken from information on the register discovered that around 250,000 investors are yet to conform to the new regulations. This article is available here. Ensure you are not among them. Over time, we anticipate an increasing number of Local Authorities to get up to speed with enforcements.

The regulations, nevertheless, are not meant to be onerous. The initial step to take is to get an EPC lodged on the register and should it be less than an E, to show you are taking or have taken actions 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 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.
Which Properties Are Exempt From Needing An EPC?
  • Places of worship.
  • Stand-alone buildings (of less than 50 m2 )
  • Residential buildings that are used for less than 4 months of the year.
  • Temporary buildings that will be used for less than two years.
  • Listed buildings.
  • Industrial sites and non-residential agricultural buildings that use little energy.
  • Are You Able To Let A Property Without An Energy Performance Certificate?
    No. From April 2020 all rental properties need to have a valid EPC recorded 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). The average UK property is a D60. Rental properties need to be a minimum of an E rating. If it is not an E then the property owner will have to carry out some of the recommendations on the EPC to increase the rating. If an E rating cannot be attained, 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?
    Properties rented out in the private market will be required to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) with a minimum energy performance rating of ‘E’. It will be illegal to rent out a property which does not have a minimum E rating unless the property has an exemption.
    What Is The Fine For Not Having An EPC?
    A set penalty charge of £200 may be given for failure to comply in the following circumstances: on sale or rent the vendor or landlord failed to make a valid domestic EPC available free of charge to the future buyer or tenant at the earliest opportunity.
    Can An EPC Fail?
    Simply no. The EPC is not a pass or fail. Even so, different 3rd parties may require the EPC achieve a specified score before they decide to proceed. An example might be a financial institution lending money against a rental property, would 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 property can be for you to rent out. It is also getting to be the standard required by financial institutions when lending money against a property.

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

    What Happens If An EPC Runs Out During A Tenancy?
    It will 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 good for a further ten years.
    Is An EPC A Legal Requirement?
    Yes, an Energy Performance Certificate is a legal requirement for all rental properties and properties that are being sold as well as all newly built properties. By law, the incoming resident must be provided with an EPC.
    Are All Listed Buildings Exempt From An EPC?
    All listed buildings are exempt from needing an EPC. A listed building is one as being identified 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 commenced 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 EPC. If the EPC is subsequently obtained, a period of 8 weeks has 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 to ensure all paperwork is presented to the courts correctly.

    Could You Market A Home Without Having An EPC?
    Yes a property can be marketed without having an EPC subject to one having been planned to be carried out within seven days. If after making all reasonable attempts one cannot be acquired within that period, then a further 21 days is permitted to acquire one.
    It Is A Legal Requirement For Renting, To Have An EPC?
    Since April 2020, all dwellings for rental 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 needs 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?
    An Energy Performance Certificate typically costs between £50 – £120. This depends on 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.
    {Greenwich sometimes gets bad press.} Nonetheless, we know it’s not really justified. It’s a fantastic area to work and live and are proud to be an EPC company in the area.
    What Customers Are Saying

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

    Serving The Greenwich Area

    Contact

    EPCHOME WEBSITE

    OWNED BY ENERGYSMART BEDFORD

    Call Us

    0800 0467 345