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We Are EPC Assessors covering the Northfield 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 Northfield 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 3 to 5 page report that rates your property from an A the best to G the lowest. It will also provide suggestions about energy improvements which might be made on the home that would help to reduce your energy bills.

Why You Need One

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The most frequent reason for needing an EPC is for anyone who is selling or renting a home. This is because, legally, you must give the incoming occupant a valid EPC. These are some of the other reasons you may be asked to produce an EPC.

• 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 illustrations refer to existing residential properties. If you have been requested by building control to provide an EPC in conjunction with recent building work, they are looking for what’s called a SAP EPC. This particular EPC is produced in addition to SAP calculations to demonstrate that building work has met specified standards required by the building regulations. If you’re uncertain, just give us a call for more advice.

How To Get One Done

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An EPC is done by a certified and approved domestic energy assessor. The Assessor must go to property to obtain the necessary information.

The assessor will take dimensions of the property plus collect specifics of the present lighting, heating system, glazing and existing insulation. It may take anywhere between 20 and 40 minutes, depending upon the complexity of the home..

The information is then input approved government software which creates the EPC. The EPC will then be lodged on the national EPC register and you should receive it by email typically in 2 to 3 days. In the event you need it urgently, for a small additional cost, we are able to arrange for you to get it the same day.

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.

How To Boost Your EPC Rating

Here we will give you some simple guidelines to ensure that your Energy Performance Certificate shows your property in the best light.

Image of an EPC energy rating

These things will enhance your EPC score

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

The Assessor has to take photographic or obtain documentary information which is necessary for audit reasons. If no evidence is gathered then the Assessor must enter the term “as built” into the software program. In this instance the program will use what the property would have been built with determined by it’s age.

If you can supply documentary proof of these sorts of improvements then this can be shown on the Certificate and is likely to enhance the rating of your EPC.


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

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

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

• Loft extensions year it was built – building control sign off, dated architectural plans.

• 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 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 fuel sources: gas, peak rate electric, off peak electric, oil, bulk or bottled LPG. So for instance a house heated by gas would cost somewhere in the region of 4.64 pence per kwh and the very same house which is heated by bottled LPG 23p per kwh. {*source 2019 Nottingham Energy Partnership.} So using a typically semi-detached using around 12,000 kwh to heat the property, it would cost £696 to heat with gas in comparison to £2,760 for bottled LPG.. Therefore running costs influences 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

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Double glazing
This one may come as a surprise, but double glazing does not have as big an impact on the EPC as most people would imagine. Certainly not nearly as much as the heating, the insulation and the type of fuel used in the property as mentioned above. However, where it will have a more substantial effect, is when your property 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 home.

With double glazing the perception is usually experienced 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 EPC as they are an inexpensive improvement that contributes to reduced energy costs but nowhere near the same contribution as heating, insulation, and heating controls.

Northfield Landlord EPC Services

The rules for property owners are forever increasing. For anybody who is a property owner, make sure that you don’t fall foul of the regulations, as civil fines as much as £5,000 can be given.

Take a look at our guidelines for quick information. We also provide discounts 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 should have a valid Energy Performance Certificate. Before that date an EPC was only necessary on new rentals. Penalties can 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 supply 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 will need to take steps to get to the minimum.

This is when the landlord must work closely with the Energy Assessor to work out affordable methods to achieve the standards.

In the event 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 provide assistance 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 last ten years managed a register of all EPCs. This register is available at www.epcregister.com. You should check here to find out if your rentals have a valid Certificate and determine that they meet at least the minimum E rating.

A recent article in the Telegraph taken from information on the register discovered that around 250,000 landlords are yet to comply with the new rules. The article is available here. Ensure you are not one of those. As time passes, we expect a lot more Local Authorities to get up to speed with enforcements.

These regulations, nevertheless, are not meant 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 demonstrate that you are currently taking or have taken steps to attain 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 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?
  • Temporary buildings that will be used for less than two years.
  • Stand-alone buildings (of less than 50 m2 )
  • Places of worship.
  • Industrial sites and non-residential agricultural buildings that use little energy.
  • Residential buildings that are used for less than 4 months of the year.
  • Listed buildings.
  • Are You Able To Let A Property Without Having An Energy Performance Certificate?
    No. From April 2020 all rental homes need to 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). The average UK property is a D60. Rental properties must be at the 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 achieved, 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 sector 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 fixed penalty charge of £200 can be given 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 potential buyer or tenant at the earliest opportunity.
    Can An EPC Fail?
    Simply no. The EPC is not a pass or fail. Nonetheless, different 3rd parties may require the EPC achieve a specified score before they decide to proceed. One example might be a financial institution lending funds against a rental property, might 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 becoming the baseline required by banks when lending funds against a home.

    It’s not to say you won’t be able to obtain the funds when it is below an E, but there will probably be additional conditions 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 will be good for a further ten years.
    Is An EPC A Legal Requirement?
    Indeed, an Energy Performance Certificate is a legal requirement for all rental properties and homes that are being sold as well as all newly built properties. By law, the incoming occupant must be provided with 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 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 an EPC is subsequently obtained, a time period of 8 weeks would need to pass before applying for a section 21 notice.

    Along with the Energy Performance Certificate the tenant will 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 so that all paperwork is given to the courts correctly.

    Could You Market A Home With No EPC?
    Yes a property can be marketed without having an EPC subject to one having actually been booked to be done within seven days. If after making all realistic attempts one cannot be done 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 home from A-G. For rental, the EPC must be a minimum rating of an E, unless a valid exemption has been applied for.
    Just How Much Does An Energy Performance Certficate Cost
    The cost of an Energy Performance Certificate is generally in the range of £50 – £120. This depends upon size of property and location. Typically it is cheaper if going straight to an approved Assessor rather than through a third party such as an Estate Agent or a marketing company.
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