EPC London

by | May 10, 2020

Need an EPC in London?

Fixed Price EPC – only £69

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We Are EPC Assessors covering the London 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 London is £69.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK ONLINE

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.
We also cover these nearby areas: Westminster, Soho, Bethnal Green, Tower Hamlets, Mile End, Hackney, Hackney, Bromley, Lambeth, Kensington and Chelsea

What is An EPC?

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EPC refers to Energy Performance Certificate. It’s a 3 to 5 page report that rates your property from an A the best to G the worst. It will also give recommendations on energy improvements that may be made in the home that might 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 of the above illustrations 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 kind 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 might have undertaken. Should you need a SAP EPC, then CLICK HERE. If you’re uncertain, 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 obtain 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 regarding the existing lighting, heating system, glazing and present insulation. A normal size home usually takes around 20 and 30 minutes..

The obtained information then input approved government software which generates the certificate. The Certificate will then be lodged on the national EPC register and you will receive it by email typically in a couple of days. Should you require it quickly, for a small additional charge, we are able to arrange for you to get it the same day.

That’s it, its all completed. Your EPC is then valid for 10 years.

LANDLORDS - ARE YOU UP TO DATE?
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.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK ONLINE
Call Free 0800-0467-345

Ways To Boost Your EPC Score

Here we will offer you some basic tips to ensure that your Energy Performance Certificate shows your property in the very best light.

Image of an EPC energy rating

These will enhance your EPC score

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Typically your Assessor should be able to get most of the information they need by simply going around the property. The data entered into the software is based on evidence gathered during the visit.

What we need to prevent is the Assessor putting into the software the term “as built” for items which will be required where no evidence is obtained. If the term “as built” needs to be used then the program will default to the worst case scenario based upon what would have been there when the property was built. EPC score.

If you can provide documentary evidence of any of these kinds of improvements then these can be shown on the EPC and will probably enhance the rating of your EPC Certificate.


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

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

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

• Roof conversions year it was built – completion certificate, dated architects plans.

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

These make the biggest difference

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The 3 mains things that have the biggest 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 generally 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 house heated by gas would cost around 4.64 pence per kwh and the similar house heated by bottled LPG 23p per kwh. {*source 2019 Nottingham Energy Partnership.} So using a typically semi using around 12,000 kwh to heat the property, it would cost £696 to heat with gas when compared to £2,760 for bottled LPG.. Therefore running costs impacts the EPC score. Higher expenses equates to 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

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Double glazing
Although upgrades to the double glazing does make a difference, the biggest difference is actually really achieved when improving from single glazed to doubled glazed. If you are upgrading from pre 2002 upvc double glazing, this will only show as a modest improvement in the energy rating of the home. With upvc double glazing the perception is generally noticed by the customer in terms of cosiness from a reduction in draughts. Since the EPC doesn’t consider the condition of any specific item, this kind of comfort gain is simply not measured.

 

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

London Landlord EPC Services

The rules for landlords are forever increasing. If you are a landlord, ensure that you don’t fall foul of the laws, as civil penalty charges up to £5,000 could be issued.

Have a look at our guidelines for quick advice. We also offer reduced prices for a number of properties.

Letting agent handing over key

EPCs And Rental Properties

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As From April 2020, all current rented properties need to have a valid Energy Performance Certificate. Prior to that date an Energy Performance Certificate was only required 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 property from an A, the highest, to a G the lowest. To legally let a property, the energy rating has to be at least an E. The policies that regulate this is known as The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard or (MEES) in short. To learn more about MEES check out 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

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The Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government have for the past 10 years managed a register of all EPCs. This register is available at www.epcregister.com. You can 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 post in the Telegraph taken from information on the register discovered that around 250,000 investors are yet to comply with the new rules. This article can be found here. Ensure you are not one of them. As time goes by, we expect more and more local authorities to get up to speed with enforcements.

These policies, nevertheless, are not intended to be onerous. The initial step to take is to get an EPC lodged on the register and if it is below an E, to show you are taking or have taken actions to get to an E. Even if it doesn’t attain an E, there are certain 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.
What Properties Do Not Need To Have An EPC?
  • 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.
  • Stand-alone buildings (of less than 50 m2 )
  • Listed buildings.
  • Residential buildings that are used for less than 4 months of the year.
    • Is It Possible To Let A Property Without An Energy Performance Certificate?
    The answer is No. From April 2020 all rental properties must have a valid EPC registered on the EPC register. To legally rent a property the energy rating of the EPC must 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). An average UK property is a D60. Rental properties should be at the least an E rating. If it is not an E then the landlord 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. Properties rated F or G, from 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 situations: 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 You Fail An EPC?
    Simply no. The EPC is not a pass or fail. Having said that, different 3rd parties may require the EPC achieve a specific score before they choose to continue. An example might be a financial institution loaning money against a rental property, will require 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 in order to rent out. Also, it is getting to be the standard requested by banking institutions when loaning money against a property.

    It’s not to say you won’t be able to borrow the funds if it is below an E, but there are more likely to be added 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 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 is valid 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 properties which are for sale as well as all newly built properties. Legally, the inbound 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 described in the database of Historic England as a listed building. A list is available 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 would need to pass before applying for a section 21 notice.

    As well as 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 correct legal advice to ensure that all documentation is presented to the courts correctly.

    Can You Market A Property Without Having An EPC?
    Yes a property may be advertised without an EPC but only subject to one having been commissioned to be carried out within 7 days. If after making all reasonable attempts one can not be done 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 must be a minimum rating of an E, unless a valid exemption has been applied for.
    What Is The Price Of An Energy Performance Certificate?
    An Energy Performance Certificate typically costs between £50 – £120. This will depend on the size of property and location. Typically it is cheaper if going directly to an accredited Assessor as opposed to via a third party for instance an Estate Agent or a marketing company.
    We love London and we are pleased to be among the finest EPC companies in the area. {Get in touch.}
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    Serving The London Area

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