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We Are EPC Assessors covering the Loughton 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 Loughton 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 recommendations on energy saving actions that can easily make a home less costly to run. EPC is short for Energy Performance Certificate. Very much the same as the energy score found on home appliances, it will give the property a score between an A (100) to a G (0). An average 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 will be looking for what’s called a SAP EPC. This kind of EPC is known as 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 require a SAP EPC, then CLICK HERE. If you’re not sure, just phone us for further advice.

How To Get One Done

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An Assessor has to undertake a visit to the property to get the necessary information for the EPC. 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 collect details about the current lighting, heating system, glazing and existing insulation. It takes between 20 and 40 minutes, depending upon the complexity of the property..

The details are then entered into approved government software which creates the certificate. 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. Should you need it quickly, for a small additional charge, we can arrange for you to get it the same day.

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 To Enhance Your EPC Score

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

Image of an EPC energy rating

These will improve your EPC score

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The data entered into the software program is based on proof that the Assessor gathers during the visit. Typically the Assessor will get almost all of the information whilst going around the property.

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

If you can supply documentary evidence of these types of improvements to the property then this can be shown on the EPC and will probably enhance the rating of your EPC.


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

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

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

• Loft extensions year it was built – completion certificate, dated architectural 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 three things that have the most significant effect on the energy rating are:


• The heating system.
• The main source of fuel for heating the property
• The levels of insulation in the property.

Main Source of Fuel
UK properties are typically heated by either of these fuel sources: gas, peak rate electric, off peak electric, oil, bulk or bottled LPG. So for instance a property or home heated by gas would cost somewhere in the region of 4.64 pence per kwh and the same property or home 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 by gas in comparison to £2,760 for bottled LPG.. Therefore running costs influences the Energy Performance rating 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
This particular one may come as a bit of a surprise, but 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 earlier mentioned. However, where it does have a greater impact, is when the home is up-graded from single glazing to double glazing. When you are changing from pre 2002 double glazing, to current double glazing, this will only show as a small rise in the energy rating of the property.

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

 

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

Loughton Landlord EPC Services

The rules for landlords are forever increasing. For anyone who is a property owner, make sure that you don’t fall foul of the laws, as civil fees and penalties up to £5,000 may be issued.

Have a look at our guidelines for quick advice. We also provide discounts for several properties.

Letting agent handing over key

EPCs And Rental Properties

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From April 2020, all current rental properties should have a valid EPC. Previous to that date an EPC was only required on new rentals. Fines may be issued by the local authority for violation of this.

What Is The Minimum Rating For A Rental Property

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The Minimum Energy Efficiency Scheme (MEES) puts an onus on landlords to provide rented homes that meet a minimum standard of energy efficiency. An energy rating of at least an E much be reached on all rented properties If it is an F or a G rating, then the landlord must take steps to attain the minimum.

This is where the landlord needs to work closely with the Energy Assessor to determine affordable solutions to reach the standards.

When the landlord has spent up to £3500 and the property still doesn’t achieve an E, then the landlord can apply for an exemption. We’re happy to give guidance all the way.

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 maintained a register of all Energy Performance Certificates. The register can be found at www.epcregister.com. You should check here to see if your properties have a valid EPC and determine that they meet at least the minimum E rating.

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

These policies, nevertheless, are not intended to be onerous. The 1st step to take is to get an EPC lodged on the register and if it is below an E, to demonstrate you are taking or have taken actions 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 give you expect advice 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 Do Not Require An EPC?
  • Stand-alone buildings (of less than 50 m2 )
  • Places of worship.
  • 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 Having An EPC?
    The simple answer is No. From April 2020 all rental homes need to 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 best) to G 0 ( the least efficient). The rating of an average UK property is a D60 Rental properties must be at least an E rating. If it is not an E then the property owner would need to undertake some of the recommendations on the EPC to raise the rating. If an E rating cannot be reached, 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?
    Properties rented out in the private market will be required to possess an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) with a minimum energy performance rating of ‘E’. It will be unlawful to rent out a property which does not have a minimum E rating unless the property has an exemption.
    What Is Penalty For Not Having An EPC?
    A set penalty charge of £200 may be issued for failure to comply in the following situations: on sale or rent the seller or landlord failed to make a valid domestic EPC available free of charge to the prospective buyer or tenant at the earliest opportunity.
    Can You Fail An EPC?
    No. The EPC is not a pass or fail. Having said that, various 3rd parties may require the EPC achieve a specified score before they choose to continue. An example would 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 EPC will rate your 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 baseline requested by banks when lending money against a property.

    It’s not to say you won’t be able to obtain the money when it is below an E, however there are more likely to be added 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 need to have a valid EPC of at least an E rating or over. 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 EPC is a legal requirement for all rental properties and homes which are being sold as well as all newly built properties. By law, the inbound occupant has 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 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 commenced 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 Energy Performance Certficate. If the EPC is subsequently obtained, a period of 8 weeks has to pass before applying for a section 21 notice.

    Along with the EPC 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 proper legal advice to ensure that all documentation is presented to the courts correctly.

    Can You Market A Home With No EPC?
    Yes a property may be advertised without an EPC but only subject to one having been requested to be done 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.
    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 has to be a minimum rating of an E, unless a valid exemption has been applied for.
    Just How Much Does An Energy Performance Certficate Cost
    An EPC typically costs between £50 – £120. This depends upon size of property and location. Typically it will be cheaper if going directly to an accredited Assessor rather than via a third party for instance an Estate Agent or a marketing company.
    Lots of people love Loughton, others don’t. We certainly love it. It’s an incredible area to live and work and has a lot of exciting things in the area. We aim to become the primary EPC company servicing the neighbourhood.
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    Serving The Loughton Area

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    0800 0467 345