Need an EPC in Queens Park?

Fixed Price EPC – only £59

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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 gives advice on energy saving measures that can make a home cheaper to run. EPC is short for Energy Performance Certificate. Much the same as the energy score found on appliances, it will give the home 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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The most common reason for needing an Energy Performance Certificate is If you are selling or renting a property. This is because, by law, you must give the incoming resident a valid EPC. However you might be required to get an EPC for any 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 are looking for what’s called a SAP EPC. This sort 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 have undertaken. Should you need a SAP EPC, then CLICK HERE. If you’re unsure, simply give us a call for further guidance.

How To Get One Done

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An EPC is done by a qualified and approved domestic energy assessor. The Assessor has to go to property to get the necessary information.

Your assessor will take dimensions of the home as well as obtain specifics of the present lighting, heating system, glazing and present insulation. A normal size home usually takes around 20 and 30 minutesto do..

The details are then input approved government software which then produces the certificate. The EPC Certificate is then 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 can 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 Improve Your EPC Rating

Here we will provide you with some easy guidelines to ensure that your EPC shows your property in the very best light.

Image of an EPC energy rating

These things will improve your EPC score

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In most cases your Assessor will obtain almost all of the information they need simply by 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 will be required where no information is obtained. If the term “as built” must be used then the software program will default to the worst case scenario based on what would have been there when the property was constructed. EPC score.

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


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

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

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

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

• Roof extensions year it was constructed – completion certificate, dated architects drawings.

These make the biggest difference

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The three items that have the biggest impact 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 properties 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 example a house heated by gas would cost somewhere in the region of 4.64 pence per kwh and the same house which is heated by bottled LPG 23p per kwh. {*source 2019 Nottingham Energy Partnership.} So with a typically semi using around 12,000 kwh to heat the property, it would cost £596 to heat with gas when compared to £2,760 for bottled LPG.. Therefore running costs influences the Energy Performance rating score. Higher costs 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 will come as a shock, but double glazing does not have as big 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 previously mentioned. Where it can have a larger effect, is if the property is up-graded from single glazing to double glazing. If you are updating from pre 2002 double glazing, to current double glazing, it will only show as a small increase in the energy rating of the home.

With double glazing the perception is normally felt by the customer in terms of comfort from a decrease in draughts. Unfortunately the EPC doesn’t consider the condition of any specific item, this comfort gain is not recorded.

 

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

Queens Park Landlord EPC Services

The regulations for landlords are forever increasing. For anybody who is a property owner, be sure that you don’t fall foul of the laws, as civil penalty charges as high as £5,000 could be given.

Have a look at our guidelines for quick advice. We also offer reductions for several properties.

Letting agent handing over key

EPCs And Rental Properties

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From April 2020, all current rental properties must have a valid EPC. Before that date an Certificate was only necessary on new rentals. Penalties may be issued by the local authority for infringement 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 offer rented properties that meet a minimum standard of energy efficiency. An energy rating of no less than 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 get to the minimum.

This is where the landlord must work closely with the Energy Assessor to work out cost-effective methods to reach 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 give 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 maintained a register of all EPCs. This register can be found at www.epcregister.com. You should check here to see if your properties have a valid Certificate and see that they meet at least the minimum E rating.

A recently available report in the Telegraph taken from information on the register found out that around 250,000 investors are yet to comply with the new regulations. The information is available here. Ensure you are not among them. Over time, we anticipate a growing number of Councils to get up to speed with enforcements.

These rules, 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 lower than an E, to demonstrate you are taking or have taken actions 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 give you expect guidance 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.
What Properties Do Not Require An EPC?
  • Listed buildings.
  • Residential buildings that are used for less than 4 months of the year.
  • Industrial sites and non-residential agricultural buildings that use little energy.
  • Temporary buildings that will be used for less than two years.
  • Places of worship.
  • Stand-alone buildings (of less than 50 m2 )
  • Are You Able To Let A Property Without An EPC?
    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 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 need to be a minimum of an E rating. If it is not an E then the property owner would have to undertake some of the recommendations on the EPC to improve the rating. If an E rating can not 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?
    Homes 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 illegal 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 fixed penalty charge of £200 can 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 future buyer or tenant at the earliest opportunity.
    Can An EPC Fail?
    No. The EPC is not a pass or fail. Having said that, various 3rd parties may require the EPC have a certain score before they decide to proceed. One example might be a bank lending money against a rental property, will require the EPC is at least an “E”.
    What Does EPC E Mean?
    The EPC will rate the 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. Also, it is becoming the standard requested by banks when lending money against a property.

    It’s not saying you won’t be able to borrow the money if it is below an E, but there are more likely to be extra clauses in the agreement.

    What Happens If An EPC Runs Out During A Tenancy?
    It will 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 over. 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?
    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 need 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. This 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 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 has to pass before applying for a section 21 notice.

    Aside from 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 correct legal advice to ensure all documentation is presented to the courts correctly.

    Can A Property Be Marketed Without An EPC?
    Yes a property may be marketed without an EPC but only subject to one having actually been booked to be carried out within seven days. If after making all realistic efforts one can not be done within that timeframe, then a further 21 days is permitted to obtain one.
    Is It A Legal Requirement For An EPC When Renting?
    Since April 2020, all properties for rental will 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 has to be a minimum rating of an E, unless a valid exemption has been applied for.
    How Much Will An Energy Performance Certficate Cost
    The cost of an EPC is usually in the range of £50 – £120. This is dependent upon size of property and location. Usually it is cheaper if going straight to an accredited Assessor as opposed to via a third party for instance an Estate Agent or a marketing company.
    {Queens Park sometimes gets bad press.} Nonetheless, we know it’s not always justified. It’s a fantastic area to work and live and are proud to be an EPC company in the area.
    What Customers Are Saying

    Moving Home, Letting A Property, Local Estate Agents, We’re Here To Help

    Serving The Queens Park Area

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    EPCHOME WEBSITE

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    Call Us

    0800 0467 345