Best Area EPC Supplier in Oxford
One Fixed Price – up to 5 bed only £55
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The EPC Service covering your area
epcHome is an EPC service provider undertaking EPCs in Oxford along with the surrounding areas. As approved Domestic Energy Assessors, we would be pleased to undertake your EPC whether it’s required for rental or for a house sale. Our usual cost to undertake an EPC in Oxford is just £55 inclusive.
Steph Explains Below Just What Is An EPC.
Some people are not clear of what an EPC is before they call us. Our explainer video clip below will help. Or you can carry on and read the brief explanation.
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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Why You Need One
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• 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 asked by building control to produce an EPC in conjunction with recent building work, they are looking for what’s called a SAP EPC. This sort of EPC is called a SAP EPC and is necessary for building control to demonstrate compliance with building regulations for any recent development work you might have undertaken. Should you need a SAP EPC, then CLICK HERE. If you’re not sure, simply give us a call for further advice.
How To Get One Done
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The assessor will take dimensions of the home plus obtain details about the existing lighting, heating, glazing and existing insulation. It may take anywhere between 20 and 40 minutes, depending upon the complexity of the property..
The information is then entered into approved government software which then generates the EPC. The EPC Certificate is then lodged on the national EPC register and you will receive it by email typically in 2 to 3 days. In the event you need it urgently, for a small additional charge, we will arrange for you to get it the same day.
That’s it, its all done. Your EPC is then valid for 10 years.
- Click the BOOK ONLINE button below
- Select an available date and time slot
- Give us your name and the address requiring the EPC
- Pay securely online
- 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 Enhance Your EPC Rating
Here we will give you some simple tips so that your EPC shows your home in the best light.
These things will enhance your EPC score
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What we want to prevent is the Assessor putting into the software the phrase “as built” for items which will be required where no information is gathered. If the term “as built” needs to be used then the program will default to the worst case scenario based on what would have been there when the property was built. EPC score.
Whenever you can supply documentary proof of any of these kinds of improvements then these can be shown on the Certificate and will probably improve the rating of your EPC Certificate.
• Any wall insulation Internal/Cavity/External– {guarantee, or receipt from installer.}
• Solar PV or Solar Thermal – An MCS certificate from contractor.
• Sloping ceiling insulation/ floor insulation – receipt from installer showing thickness fitted.
• Roof conversions year it was built – completion certificate, dated architects drawings.
• Double glazing improvements made to the majority of the property – Fensa certificate, or dated receipt from the installer.
These make the biggest difference
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• 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 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 property or home heated by gas would cost you around 4.64 pence per kwh and the same property or home which is heated by bottled LPG 23p per kwh. {*source 2019 Nottingham Energy Partnership.} So with a typically semi-detached which uses in the region of 12,000 kwh to heat the home, it would cost you £556 to heat by gas in comparison to £2,760 for bottled LPG.. Therefore running costs impacts the Energy Performance rating score. Higher costs equates to 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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This one will come as a surprise, but upvc double glazing does not have as major an effect on the EPC as most people would think. Certainly not as much as the heating, the insulation and the type of fuel used in the property as mentioned before. Where it will have a larger effect, is if your property is up-graded from single glazing to double glazing. If you are improving from pre 2002 upvc double glazing, to current double glazing, this would only show as a small increase in the energy rating of the property.
With double glazing the perception is normally noticed by the customer in terms of comfort from a reduction in draughts. Because the EPC doesn’t consider the condition of any particular item, this comfort gain is not recorded.
Low Energy Lights
Again low energy lighting does indeed help the EPC as they are an affordable improvement that leads to cheaper energy costs but nowhere near the same contribution as insulation, heating and heating controls.
Oxford Landlord EPC Services
The rules for property owners are forever increasing. For anyone who is a landlord, make sure that you don’t fall foul of the regulations, as civil fees and penalties as high as £5,000 may be issued.
Look at our guidelines for quick advice. We offer reductions for a number of properties.
EPCs And Rental Properties
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What Is The Minimum Rating For A Rental Property
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This is when the landlord would need to work closely with the Energy Assessor to determine cost effective methods to attain the standards.
When the landlord has invested up to £3500 and the property still doesn’t achieve an E, then the landlord can apply for an exemption. We’re happy to offer assistance all the way.
How To Find If You Have A Valid EPC
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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. 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.
The regulations, having said that, 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 taking or have taken steps to get to an E. Even if it doesn’t attain an E, there are specific 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 Do Not Need To Have An EPC?
Are You Able To Let A Property Without An EPC?
The answer is No. From April 2020 all rental homes 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 have to be a minimum of an E rating. If it is not an E then the landlord would have to carry out some of the recommendations on the EPC to improve the rating. If an E rating cannot be attained, 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 rates a property from A, the best to G, the worst. Dwellings 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 The Fine For Not Having An EPC?
A fixed penalty charge of £200 may be issued 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 future buyer or tenant at the earliest opportunity.
Can You Fail An EPC?
No. The EPC is not a pass or fail. Nevertheless, various 3rd parties may require the EPC achieve a certain 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 dwelling can be to be able to rent out. Also, it is becoming the baseline requested by financial institutions when lending money against a property.
It’s not saying you won’t be able to obtain the funds if it is below an E, although 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 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 is good for a further 10 years.
Is An EPC A Legal Requirement?
Indeed, an EPC is a legal requirement for all rental properties and homes which are for sale as well as all newly built properties. By law, the incoming occupant has to be provided with an EPC.
Are All Listed Buildings Exempt From An EPC?
All listed properties are exempt from requiring an EPC. A listed building is one as being identified in the database of Historic England as a listed building. A list can be located at https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/
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 provided the tenant with an Energy Performance Certficate. If an EPC is subsequently obtained, a period of 8 weeks needs to pass before applying for a section 21 notice.
In addition to 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 paperwork is presented to the courts correctly.
Could You Market A Property Without An EPC?
Yes a property may be marketed without having an EPC subject to one having actually been requested to be carried out within 7 days. If after making all reasonable attempts one cannot be obtained within that timeframe, then a further 21 days is allowed to acquire one.
Is An EPC A Legal Requirement When Renting?
Since April 2020, all dwellings for rental must have a valid EPC on the EPC register. The EPC rates the energy efficiency of a property 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
An EPC typically costs between £50 – £120. This is determined by size of property and location. Usually it will be cheaper if going straight to a licensed Assessor instead of via a third party such as an Estate Agent or a marketing company.
What’s terrific about Oxford. A lot of interesting things beyond EPCs.