Need an EPC in Queens Park?

Fixed Price EPC – only £59

EPC

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We Are EPC Assessors covering the Queens Park 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 Queens Park 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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An EPC is a legal report that provides recommendations on energy saving measures that can easily make a property less costly to run. EPC is short for Energy Performance Certificate. 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). A typical UK home is rated at a D60.

Why You Need One

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The most frequent reason for needing an Energy Performance Certificate is for anyone who is selling or renting a property. This is because, legally, you have to give the incoming occupant a valid EPC. These are among the other reasons you could be asked to provide 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 of 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 sort of EPC is called a SAP EPC and is required by building control to show compliance with building regulations for any recent development work you might have undertaken. If 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 must undertake a visit to the home to get the required data 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 home and also obtain specifics of the current lighting, heating system, glazing and current insulation. An average size property will take between 20 and 30 minutesto do..

The details are then entered into approved government software which then creates the certificate. The Certificate is then lodged on the national EPC register and you should receive it by email typically in 2 to 3 days. Should you require it urgently, for a small additional cost, 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.

Ways To Improve Your EPC Rating

Here we will provide you with some simple guidelines so that your EPC reflects your property in the very best light.

Image of an EPC energy rating

These things will enhance your EPC score

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Typically your Assessor can obtain almost all of the information they need by just going around the home. The data entered into the software is based on evidence gathered during the visit.

What we should avoid is the Assessor putting into the software the term “as built” for items which are needed where no proof is obtained. If the term “as built” has to be used then the software will default to the worst case scenario based on what would have been there when the property was constructed. This may have a negative effect on the {rating of the EPC}

Whenever you can provide documentary evidence of these types of improvements to the property then this can be shown on the Certificate and will probably improve the rating of your EPC Certificate.


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

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

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

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

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

These make the biggest difference

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The 3 mains items that have the most significant 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 generally heated by either of these fuel sources: gas, peak rate electric, off peak electric, oil, bulk or bottled LPG. So for example a property or home heated by gas would cost around 4.64 pence per kwh and the exact same property or home 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 property, it would cost £596 to heat with gas compared to £2,760 for bottled LPG.. Therefore running costs affects the Energy Performance rating score. Higher expenses 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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Double glazing
Although improvements to the double glazing does make a difference, the greatest difference is only really achieved when upgrading from single glazed to doubled glazed. If you are simply modernising from pre 2002 upvc double glazing, it will only show as a small improvement in the energy rating of the property. With upvc double glazing the perception is generally felt by the customer in terms of cosiness from a decrease in draughts. As the EPC doesn’t consider the condition of any particular item, this kind of comfort gain is simply not measured.

 

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

Queens Park 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 fines up to £5,000 could be given.

Look at our guidelines for quick advice. We offer discounts for a number of properties.

Letting agent handing over key

EPCs And Rental Properties

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From April 2020, all existing rental properties should have a valid EPC. Previous to that date an Certificate was only needed on new rentals. Fines can 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 must be not less than an E. The regulations that regulate this is called The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard or (MEES) for short. For additional 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 needs to take measures 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 10 years kept a register of all EPCs. This register is located at www.epcregister.com. You can check here to see if your properties have a valid Certificate and determine that they meet at least the required E rating.

A recently available post in the Telegraph taken from information on the register found out that around 250,000 landlords are yet to comply with the new regulations. The information is available here. Make sure you are not one of them. As time goes by, we anticipate an increasing number of Local Authorities to get up to speed with enforcements.

The regulations, however, are not intended to be onerous. The 1st step to take is to get an EPC lodged on the register and if it is less than an E, to show that you are currently taking or have taken actions to attain 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.
What Properties Are Exempt From Requiring An EPC?
  • Stand-alone buildings (of less than 50 m2 )
  • Temporary buildings that will be used for less than two years.
  • Places of worship.
  • Residential buildings that are used for less than 4 months of the year.
  • Industrial sites and non-residential agricultural buildings that use little energy.
  • Listed buildings.
  • Can You Let A Property Without An EPC?
    No. From April 2020 all rental properties need to 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 rating of an average UK property is a D60 Rental properties should be a minimum of an E rating. If it is not an E then the landlord would need to undertake some of the recommendations on the EPC to increase 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?
    Homes rented out in the private sector will be required to possess an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) with a minimum energy performance rating of ‘E’. It will be illegal to rent out a dwelling which does not have a minimum E rating unless the property has an exemption.
    What Is The Fine For Not Having An EPC?
    A set penalty charge of £200 can be given for failure to comply in the following situations: on sale or rent the owner 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 specific score before they decide to continue. An example might be a financial institution lending money against a rental property, will 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 dwelling can be to be able to rent out. Also, it is becoming the standard required by financial institutions when lending money against a property.

    It’s not saying you won’t be able to obtain the funds when it is below an E, however there will probably be extra clauses in the agreement.

    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 valid for a further 10 years.
    Is An EPC A Legal Requirement?
    Yes, an EPC is a legal requirement for all rental properties and properties that are being sold as well as all newly built properties. Legally, the inbound occupant must 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. This list can be found 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 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 time period of 8 weeks would need to pass before applying for a section 21 notice.

    As well as the EPC the tenant would have had to be also provided with a gas safety certificate and also 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 all paperwork is given to the courts correctly.

    Can You Market A Home Without An EPC?
    Yes a property can be marketed without having an EPC subject to one having been planned to be carried out within seven days. If after making all realistic attempts one cannot be obtained within that period, then a further 21 days is permitted to acquire one.
    It Is A Legal Requirement For Renting, To Have An EPC?
    From April 2020, all properties 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 needs to be a minimum rating of an E, unless a valid exemption has been applied for.
    Do You Know The Price Of An EPC?
    An EPC typically costs between £50 – £120. This is dependent upon size of property and location. Typically it will be cheaper if going straight to an approved Assessor as opposed to using a 3rd party such as an Estate Agent or a marketing company.
    We love Queens Park and we are pleased to be among the finest EPC providers in the region. {Get in touch.}
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    Serving The Queens Park Area

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