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We Are EPC Assessors covering the Royston 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 Royston 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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EPC is short for Energy Performance Certificate. It’s a 3 to 5 page report which rates the home from an A the best to G the worst. It will provide suggestions about energy improvements that may be made on the home that would help to lower your energy bills.

Why You Need One

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The most common reason for needing an Energy Performance Certificate is for anyone who is selling or renting a property. The reason being, by law, you must give the incoming resident a valid EPC. However you could be required to obtain an Energy Performance Certificate 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 type of EPC is called a SAP EPC and is needed by building control to show compliance with building regulations for any recent development work you have undertaken. Should you require a SAP EPC, then CLICK HERE. If you’re uncertain, just give us a call for further advice.

How To Get One Done

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An Assessor must undertake a visit to the home to obtain the necessary data for the Energy Performance Certificate. They are certified and must be a continuing member of an approved Government certification scheme.

Your Assessor will take dimensions of the home plus obtain specifics of the present lighting, heating system, glazing and current insulation. A normal size home normally takes around 20 and 30 minutesto do..

The information is then put into approved government software which produces the certificate. The Energy Performance Certificate will then be lodged on the national EPC register and you should receive it by email typically in 2 to 3 days. However, if you need your EPC quickly, for a small additional fee, we can produce an EPC for you on the same day of the visit. We call this an express EPC.

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.

How To Boost Your EPC Rating

Here we will give you some simple tips so your Energy Performance Certificate reflects your home 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 should be able to 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 want to avoid is the Assessor putting into the software the term “as built” for items that will be required where no proof is obtained. 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 constructed. EPC score.

If you can provide documentary evidence of these kinds of improvements then this can be shown on the EPC and will likely help the rating of your EPC.


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

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

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

• Loft conversions year it was constructed – building control sign off, dated architects plans.

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

These make the biggest difference

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The three 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 properties 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 house heated by gas would cost somewhere in the region of 4.64 pence per kwh and the identical house which is heated by bottled LPG 23p per kwh. {*source 2019 Nottingham Energy Partnership.} So using a typically semi using in the region of 12,000 kwh to heat the property, it would cost £596 to heat by gas when compared to £2,760 for bottled LPG.. Therefore running costs impacts the EPC 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 one may come as a surprise, but double glazing does not have as big an impact on the EPC as most people would think. Certainly not as much as the heating, the insulation and the type of fuel used as previously mentioned. However, where it does have a larger impact, is if the home is up-graded from single glazing to double glazing. If you are improving 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 generally experienced by the customer in terms of comfort from a decrease in draughts. Because the EPC doesn’t take into account the condition of any particular item, this comfort gain is not recorded.

 

Low Energy Lights
Again low energy lights does help the Energy Performance Certificate because they are an inexpensive improvement that leads to cheaper energy costs but nowhere near the same contribution as heating, insulation, and heating controls.

Royston Landlord EPC Services

The rules for property owners are forever increasing. If you are a landlord, make sure that you don’t fall foul of the laws, as civil fees and penalties as high as £5,000 can be issued.

Take a look at our guidelines for quick advice. We offer reductions 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 Energy Performance Certificate. Previous to that date an Energy Performance Certificate was only needed on new rentals. Penalties and fees 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 offer rented homes that meet a minimum standard of energy efficiency. All rented properties have to be not less than an energy rating of an E. If it is an F or a G rating, then the landlord must take steps to reach the minimum.

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

In the event the landlord has put in 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 10 years maintained a register of all EPCs. This register is located at www.epcregister.com. You should check here to see if your properties have a valid EPC and determine that they meet at least the required E rating.

A recent report in the Telegraph taken from information on the register discovered that around 250,000 landlords are yet to comply with the new rules. This article is available here. Ensure you are not one of those. As time goes by, we anticipate a growing number of local authorities to get up to speed with enforcements.

These policies, nevertheless, are not meant 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 reach an E, there are certain exemptions that you could then be able to apply for. We can provide expect recommendations 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 Dwellings 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 )
  • Industrial sites and non-residential agricultural buildings that use little energy.
  • Places of worship.
  • Residential buildings that are used for less than 4 months of the year.
  • Listed buildings.
  • Can You Let A Property Without Having An Energy Performance Certificate?
    The simple answer is No. From April 2020 all rental homes need to 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 most efficient) to G 0 ( the least efficient). The rating of an average UK property is a D60 Rental properties should be at the least an E rating. If it is not an E then the landlord will need to carry out some of the recommendations on the EPC to improve 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.

    What Is The Minimum EPC Rating To Let A Property?
    The minimum EPC rating for rental is an ‘E’. The EPC scores a property from A, the best to G, the worst. Dwellings rated F or G, from 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 issued for failure to comply in the following circumstances: on sale or rent the owner or landlord failed to make a valid domestic EPC available free of charge to the potential buyer or tenant at the earliest opportunity.
    Can You Fail An EPC?
    No. The EPC is not a pass or fail. Nonetheless, different 3rd parties may require the EPC have a specific score before they choose to continue. One example would 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 Energy Performance Certificate will rate your 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 getting to be the standard requested by banking institutions when lending funds against a property.

    It’s not saying you won’t be able to obtain the money when it is below an E, but there will probably be added conditions in the arrangement.

    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 10 years.
    Is An EPC A Legal Requirement?
    Yes, 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 resident need to be given 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 identified 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 EPC. If an EPC is subsequently obtained, a time period of 8 weeks needs to pass before applying for a section 21 notice.

    Besides 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 correct legal advice so that all documentation is given to the courts correctly.

    Can You Market A Home Without Having An EPC?
    Yes a property can be marketed without having an EPC subject to one having been requested to be done within 7 days. If after making all reasonable efforts one can not be acquired within that timeframe, then a further 21 days is allowed to obtain 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 has to be a minimum rating of an E, unless a valid exemption has been applied for.
    How Much Does An EPC Cost
    The price of an Energy Performance Certificate is typically in the range of £50 – £120. This will depend on the size of property and location. Typically it is cheaper if going straight to a licensed Assessor as opposed to via a 3rd party like an Estate Agent or a marketing company.
    What’s great about Royston. A lot of interesting things beyond EPCs.
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