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We Are EPC Assessors covering the Harpenden 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 Harpenden 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 stands for Energy Performance Certificate. It’s a three to five page document that rates the property from an A the best to G the worst. It will give suggestions about energy improvements which might be made in the home which would help to reduce your energy bills.

Why You Need One

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The most frequent reason for requiring an Energy Performance Certificate is If you are selling or renting a home. It is because, by law, you have to give the incoming resident a valid Energy Performance. However you might be required to get an EPC for any one 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 kind of EPC is called a SAP EPC and is required by building control to demonstrate compliance with building regulations for any recent development work you might have undertaken. In case you need a SAP EPC, then CLICK HERE. If you’re unsure, just give us a call for further advice.

How To Get One Done

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An Assessor must carry out a visit to the property to get the necessary information for the EPC. They are qualified and must be a continuing member of an approved Government certification scheme.

The Assessor will take dimensions of the property as well as collect details about the present lighting, heating system, glazing and present insulation. A typical size home normally takes around 20 and 30 minutes..

The obtained information then input approved government software which generates the certificate. The EPC 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 urgently, 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 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 You Can Boost Your EPC Score

Here we will offer you some easy tips to ensure that your EPC shows your home in the very best light.

Image of an EPC energy rating

These things will enhance your EPC score

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The information put into the software program is based on evidence that the Assessor collects during the visit. Typically the Assessor will get almost all of the information whilst going around the property.

The Assessor must take photographic or gather documentary evidence that is needed for audit purposes. If no evidence is gathered then the Assessor has to enter the term “as built” in to the software. In such a case the software program will use what the property would have been built with based on it’s age.

If you can provide documentary proof of these types of improvements to the property then this can be shown on the EPC and is likely to help the rating of your EPC.


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

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

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

• Loft conversions year it was constructed – completion certificate, dated architects drawings.

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

These make the biggest difference

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The 3 mains items that have the main 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 properties are generally 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 around 4.64 pence per kwh and the very same property which is heated by bottled LPG 23p per kwh. {*source 2019 Nottingham Energy Partnership.} So with a typically semi-detached which uses around 12,000 kwh to heat the home, it would cost £696 to heat with gas when compared to £2,760 for bottled LPG.. Therefore running costs impacts the EPC score. 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 upgrades to the double glazing will make a difference, the biggest difference is actually really achieved if you are improving from single glazed to doubled glazed. If you are modernising from pre 2002 upvc double glazing, this would only show as a small improvement in the energy rating of the home. With upvc double glazing the perception is generally experienced by the customer in terms of cosiness from a decrease in draughts. Since the EPC doesn’t take into account the condition of any specific object, this kind of comfort gain is not measured.

 

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

Harpenden Landlord EPC Services

The rules for landlords are forever increasing. For anybody who is a property owner, make certain you don’t fall foul of the regulations, as civil penalty charges of up to £5,000 may be issued.

Check out our guidelines for quick advice. We also provide reductions for a number of properties.

Letting agent handing over key

EPCs And Rental Properties

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From April 2020, all current rented properties must have a valid EPC. Prior to that date an Certificate was only necessary on new rentals. Penalties and fees may be issued by the local authority for infringement of this.

What Is The Minimum Rating For A Rental Property

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An EPC rates the property from an A, the highest, to a G the lowest. To legally rent a property, the energy rating need to be at the least an E. The policies that govern this is called The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard or (MEES) for short. For more information on MEES go to the government website for landlord guidance.

If your property is currently 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 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 maintained a register of all Energy Performance Certificates. The register is found at www.epcregister.com. You should check here to see if your properties have a valid EPC and see that they meet at least the required E rating.

A recently available article in the Telegraph taken from information on the register discovered that around 250,000 investors are yet to conform to the new rules. The article is available here. Make sure you are not one of them. As time goes by, we anticipate a lot more Councils to get up to speed with enforcements.

These policies, however, are not intended to be onerous. The first step to take is to get an EPC lodged on the register and should it be lower than an E, to demonstrate that you are taking or have taken steps to reach an E. Even if it doesn’t reach an E, there are certain exemptions that you could then be able to apply for. We can provide expect guidance 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.
Which Properties Are Exempt From Needing An EPC?
  • Listed buildings.
  • Places of worship.
  • Industrial sites and non-residential agricultural buildings that use little energy.
  • 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.
  • Can You Let A Property Without 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 needs 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 average 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 will need to undertake some of the recommendations on the EPC to raise the rating. If an E rating cannot be attained, then an exemption can be applied for by visiting 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 a property from A, the best to G, the worst. Properties rated F or G, after April 2020, cannot legally be let. Energy-efficient upgrades will need to be made, or a valid exemption applied for.
    What Is Penalty For Not Having An EPC?
    A set penalty charge of £200 can 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 future buyer or tenant at the earliest opportunity.
    Can An EPC Fail?
    No. The EPC is not a pass or fail. Nevertheless, different 3rd parties may require the EPC achieve a specified score before they decide to continue. An example might be a financial institution 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 so as to rent out. It is also becoming the standard requested by banking institutions when loaning funds against a home.

    It’s not to say you won’t be able to obtain the money when it is below an E, although there are more likely to be additional conditions in the agreement.

    What Happens If An EPC Runs Out During A Tenancy?
    It would simply 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 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?
    Yes, an EPC is a legal requirement for all rental properties and properties that are for sale as well as all newly built properties. By law, the incoming resident need to be provided with an EPC.
    Are All Listed Buildings Exempt From An EPC?
    All listed buildings are exempt from requiring an EPC. A listed building is one as being identified in the database of Historic England as a listed building. The list can be found 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 given the tenant an EPC. If an EPC is subsequently obtained, a time period of 8 weeks needs to pass before applying for a section 21 notice.

    In addition to the EPC 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 correct legal advice so that all records is given to the courts correctly.

    Can You Market A Home Without Having An EPC?
    Yes a property may be advertised without having an EPC subject to one having actually been planned to be carried out within seven days. If after making all realistic efforts one cannot be acquired within that timeframe, then a further 21 days is permitted to get one.
    Is It A Legal Requirement For An EPC When Renting?
    From 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 Does An EPC Cost
    An EPC typically costs between £50 – £120. This is determined by size of property and location. Typically it will be cheaper if going directly to a certified Assessor as opposed to through a third party such as an Estate Agent or a marketing company.
    {Harpenden sometimes gets bad press.} Nonetheless, we believe it’s not really justified. It’s a fantastic area to operate and live and are extremely pleased 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 Harpenden Area

    Contact

    EPCHOME WEBSITE

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    Call Us

    0800 0467 345