Need an EPC in Milton Keynes?

Fixed Price EPC – only £59

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We Are EPC Assessors covering the Milton Keynes 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 Milton Keynes 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?

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EPC refers to Energy Performance Certificate. It’s a 3 to 5 page document which rates the home from an A the highest to G the lowest. It will also provide recommendations on energy improvements which can be made in the home that could help to reduce your energy bills.

Why You Need One

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The most common reason for needing 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 asked to get an EPC 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 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 will be looking for what’s called a SAP EPC. This kind of EPC is called a SAP EPC and is needed 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 not certain, simply contact us for further advice.

How To Get One Done

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An Assessor has to undertake a visit to the home to get the necessary data for the EPC. They are certified and must be a continuing member of an approved Government accreditation scheme.

Your assessor will take dimensions of the home and also collect information regarding the current lighting, home heating, glazing and current insulation. A normal size home usually takes between 20 and 30 minutesto do..

The details are then input approved government software which then produces the certificate. The EPC will then be lodged on the national EPC register and you will receive it by email typically in a couple of days. However, if you need your EPC urgently, for a small additional charge, we can provide an EPC for you the same day day of the visit. We call this an express EPC.

That’s it, its all completedYour 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.

Ways To Enhance Your EPC Rating

Here we will give you some simple tips so that your EPC reflects your home in the very best light.

Image of an EPC energy rating

These will enhance your EPC rating

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In most cases your Assessor should be able to obtain the vast majority of information they need simply by going around the home. The data entered into the software is based on evidence gathered during the visit.

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

Whenever you can supply documentary evidence of any of these types of improvements to the property then this can be shown on the Certificate and is likely to enhance the rating of your EPC Certificate.

• Loft extensions year it was constructed – completion certificate, dated architects plans.

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

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

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

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

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

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 instance a house heated by gas would cost you somewhere in the region of 4.64 pence per kwh and the similar house 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 £596 to heat with gas in comparison to £2,760 for bottled LPG.. Therefore running costs influences the EPC rating. 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 can make a difference, the greatest increase is only really achieved when you are improving from single glazing to doubled glazing. If you are simply upgrading from pre 2002 double glazing, this would only show as a small improvement in the energy rating of the home. With double glazing the perception is typically experienced by the customer in terms of cosiness from a decrease in draughts. Because the EPC doesn’t consider the condition of any specific item, this comfort gain is simply not measured.

 

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

Milton Keynes Landlord EPC Services

The regulations for landlords are forever increasing. For anybody who is a landlord, be sure that you don’t fall foul of the regulations, as civil penalties as much as £5,000 may be given.

Check out our guidelines for quick advice. We offer 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 should have a valid EPC. Previous to that date an EPC 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 home from an A, the highest, to a G the lowest. To legally let a property, the energy rating needs to be at least an E. The regulations 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. If there is 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 last ten years kept a register of all EPCs. This register is available at www.epcregister.com. You can check here to find out if your rentals have a valid Certificate and see that they meet at least the minimum E rating.

A recent article in the Telegraph taken from information on the register found that around 250,000 landlords are yet to comply with the new regulations. This article is available here. Ensure you are not one of them. As time passes, we anticipate more and more Councils to get up to speed with enforcements.

These policies, however, are not meant 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 demonstrate that you are taking or have taken actions to attain an E. Even if it doesn’t reach an E, there are specific exemptions that you could then be able to apply for. We can give you expect recommendations 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?
  • Stand-alone buildings (of less than 50 m2 )
  • Places of worship.
  • Temporary buildings that will be used for less than two years.
  • Residential buildings that are used for less than 4 months of the year.
  • Listed buildings.
  • Industrial sites and non-residential agricultural buildings that use little energy.
  • Can You Let A Property Without Having 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 average UK property is a D60. Rental properties should be at least an E rating. If it is not an E then the landlord will need to carry out some of the recommendations on the EPC to improve the rating. If an E rating cannot be achieved, then an exemption can be applied for by visiting the Government website and applying for an exemption on the PRS register.

    Is There A Minimum EPC rating to Let A Property?
    The minimum EPC rating for rental is an ‘E’. The EPC rates the property from A, the highest to G, the lowest. Dwellings rated F or G, from April 2020, cannot legally be let. Energy-efficient improvements 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 given for failure to comply in the following circumstances: 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 An EPC Fail?
    Simply no. The EPC is not a pass or fail. However, different 3rd parties may require the EPC have a certain rating before they choose to continue. One example might be a financial institution loaning funds against a rental property, might 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 property can be in order to rent out. It is also becoming the baseline requested by banking institutions when loaning funds 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 will probably be added clauses in the arrangement.

    What Happens If An EPC Runs Out During A Tenancy?
    It will have to be renewed Under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard, all rental properties must 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 which are for sale as well as all newly built properties. Legally, the incoming resident has to be given an EPC.
    Are All Listed Buildings Exempt From An EPC?
    All listed properties are exempt from needing an EPC. A listed building is one as being described in the database of Historic England as a listed building. The list is available 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 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.

    As well as 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 paperwork is presented to the courts correctly.

    Could You Market A Home 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 realistic attempts one cannot be obtained within that timeframe, then a further 21 days is permitted to get one.
    Is An EPC A Legal Requirement When Renting?
    From April 2020, all dwellings 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 needs to be a minimum rating of an E, unless a valid exemption has been applied for.
    How Much Is An EPC?
    An EPC typically costs between £50 – £120. This is dependent upon size of property and location. Usually it is cheaper if going straight to a certified Assessor rather than using a 3rd party like an Estate Agent or a marketing company.
    Like it or loath it Milton Keynes is an appealing place to reside and work. Personally, we love it and are pleased to be one of the leading EPC service providers in the area
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    Serving The Milton Keynes Area

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    0800 0467 345