Need an EPC in Redbridge?

Fixed Price EPC – only £59

EPC

our services

We Are EPC Assessors covering the Redbridge 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 Redbridge 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?

More Info
An EPC is a legal report that provides advice on energy saving measures that can make a property less costly to run. EPC is short for Energy Performance Certificate. Very much the same as the energy rating found on electrical home appliances, it will give the home a rating between an A (100) to a G (0). An average UK residence is rated at a D60.

Why You Need One

More Info
The most typical reason for needing an Energy Performance Certificate is If you are selling or renting a home. The reason being, by law, you must give the incoming occupant a valid Energy Performance. However you might be required to obtain 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 of 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 will be 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 might have undertaken. If you need a SAP EPC, then CLICK HERE. If you’re uncertain, simply give us a call for more advice.

How To Get One Done

More Info
An EPC is carried out by a professional and accredited domestic energy assessor. The Assessor must go to property to obtain the required information.

Your Assessor will take dimensions of the home plus gather details about the existing lighting, heating, glazing and present insulation. A typical size home takes around 20 and 30 minutes..

The information is then put into approved government software which produces the certificate. The EPC 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 charge, 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.

Tips On How To Enhance Your EPC Rating

Here we will provide you with some simple tips so your EPC shows your property in the very best light.

Image of an EPC energy rating

These things will enhance your EPC rating

More Info
The information put into the software program is based on proof that the Assessor gathers during the visit. In most cases your Assessor can get almost all the information whilst going around the home.

What we should prevent is the Assessor putting into the software the term “as built” for items that are needed where no proof is gathered. When 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 built. This can have a negative impact on the {rating of the EPC}

If you can supply documentary evidence of these sorts of improvements to the property then these can be shown on the EPC and is likely to improve the rating of your EPC.


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

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

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

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

• Loft extensions year it was built – completion certificate, dated architectural plans.

These make the biggest difference

More Info
The 3 mains things that have the main 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 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 heated by gas would cost you around 4.64 pence per kwh and the same property 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 property, it would cost you £596 to heat with gas when compared to £2,760 for bottled LPG.. Therefore running costs affects the Energy Performance rating rating. Higher costs equals 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

More Info
Double glazing
This will come as a surprise, but upvc double glazing does not have as big an effect on the EPC as most people would assume. Certainly not as much as the heating, the insulation and the type of fuel used in the property as mentioned before. However, where it will have a more substantial effect, is if your property is up-graded from single glazing to double glazing. When you are changing from pre 2002 upvc double glazing, to current double glazing, this will only show as a small increase in the energy rating of the home.

With double glazing the perception is generally experienced 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 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 insulation, heating and heating controls.

Redbridge Landlord EPC Services

The regulations for property owners are forever increasing. For anybody who is a landlord, make certain you don’t fall foul of the regulations, as civil penalty charges up to £5,000 could be given.

Look at our guidelines for quick information. We offer reduced prices for several properties.

Letting agent handing over key

EPCs And Rental Properties

More Info
As From April 2020, all current rental properties need to have a valid EPC. Before that date an Energy Performance Certificate was only necessary on new rentals. Penalties can be issued by the local authority for breach of this.

What Is The Minimum Rating For A Rental Property

More Info
An EPC rates the home from an A, the highest, to a G the lowest. To legally rent a property, the energy rating must be at the least an E. The policies that control this is called The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard or (MEES) for short. To learn more about MEES visit the government website for landlord guidance.

If your property is currently an F or G it cannot legally be let on a new rental. Should there be an existing tenant in the property and the rating is lower than an E, then the landlord needs to take steps to get the rating up to an E.

How To Find If You Have A Valid EPC

More Info
The Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government have for the last ten years maintained a register of all EPCs. The register is located at www.epcregister.com. You can check here to find out if your rentals have a valid EPC and determine that they meet at least the minimum E rating.

A recent report in the Telegraph taken from information on the register discovered that around 250,000 investors are yet to comply with the new regulations. The information is available here. Ensure you are not one of those. Over time, we anticipate an increasing number of Councils to get up to speed with enforcements.

The policies, having said that, are not intended to be onerous. The first 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 reach an E. Even if it doesn’t achieve an E, there are certain exemptions that you could then be able to apply for. We can provide expect advice 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 Dwellings Are Exempt From Requiring An EPC?
  • Residential buildings that are used for less than 4 months of the year.
  • Industrial sites and non-residential agricultural buildings that use little energy.
  • Places of worship.
  • Stand-alone buildings (of less than 50 m2 )
  • Temporary buildings that will be used for less than two years.
  • Listed buildings.
  • Is It Possible To Let A Property Without An EPC?
    The simple 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 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). An average UK property is a D60. Rental properties need to be at least an E rating. If it is not an E then the landlord will have to undertake some of the recommendations on the EPC to increase the rating. If an E rating can not 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?
    The minimum EPC rating for rental is an ‘E’. The EPC scores the property from A, the highest to G, the lowest. Dwellings rated F or G, after April 2020, cannot legally be let. Energy-efficient upgrades 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 can be given for failure to comply in the following instances: on sale or rent the vendor 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?
    Simply no. The EPC is not a pass or fail. However, various 3rd parties may require the EPC have a specific rating before they decide to continue. An example might be a financial institution lending funds 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. It is also becoming the standard requested by banking institutions when lending funds against a home.

    It’s not saying you won’t be able to obtain the money if 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 will have to be renewed Under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard, all rental properties will need to have a valid EPC of at least an E rating or higher. All EPCs are lodged on a national register at epcregister.com. The EPC is good for a further ten years.
    Is An EPC A Legal Requirement?
    Indeed, an EPC is a legal requirement for all rental properties and homes which are being sold as well as all newly built properties. Legally, the inbound occupant has to be provided with an EPC.
    Are All Listed Buildings Exempt From An EPC?
    All listed buildings 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 can be located 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 provided the tenant with an EPC. If the EPC is subsequently obtained, a period of 8 weeks has to pass before applying for a section 21 notice.

    Besides 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 proper legal advice so that all documents is given to the courts correctly.

    Can You Market A Property Without An EPC?
    Yes a property can be marketed without having an EPC subject to one having been booked to be carried out within seven days. If after making all reasonable efforts one can not be obtained within that timeframe, then a further 21 days is allowed to obtain one.
    Is An EPC A Legal Requirement When Renting?
    Since April 2020, all properties 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 has to be a minimum rating of an E, unless a valid exemption has been applied for.
    Just How Much Does An EPC Cost
    The cost of an EPC is normally in the range of £50 – £120. This will depend on the size of property and location. Typically it is cheaper if going straight to an accredited Assessor instead of via a third party such as an Estate Agent or a marketing company.
    What’s wonderful about Redbridge. A lot of interesting things beyond EPCs.
    What Customers Are Saying

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

    Serving The Redbridge Area

    Contact

    EPCHOME WEBSITE

    OWNED BY ENERGYSMART BEDFORD

    Call Us

    0800 0467 345