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We Are EPC Assessors covering the Rushden 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 Rushden 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 stands for Energy Performance Certificate. It’s a 3 to 5 page report which rates your property from an A the best to G the worst. It will give advice on energy improvements which can be made in the home that would help to reduce your energy bills.

Why You Need One

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{There are various reasons that you may be asked to provide an EPC. The most common of these are if you are selling a property or if you are renting a property. It is a legal requirement that an EPC is given to the other party.}.

• 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 illustrations refer to existing residential properties. If you have been requested by building control to provide 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 required by building control to demonstrate compliance with building regulations for any recent development work you have undertaken. In case you need a SAP EPC, then CLICK HERE. If you’re not certain, simply contact us for more advice.

How To Get One Done

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An EPC is done by a professional and approved domestic energy assessor. The Assessor must go to property to obtain the necessary information.

The assessor will take dimensions of the home plus collect information regarding the present lighting, home heating, glazing and present insulation. It takes between 20 and 40 minutes, dependant upon the complexity of the home..

The details are then input approved government software which generates the EPC. The Energy Performance Certificate will be 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 quickly, for a small additional cost, we are able to arrange for you to get it the same day.

That’s it, its all doneYour EPC is then valid for 10 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 You Can Boost Your EPC Score

Here we will provide you with some basic tips to ensure that your Energy Performance Certificate reflects your home in the best light.

Image of an EPC energy rating

These will improve your EPC score

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Typically your Assessor is able to get a lot 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 need to prevent is the Assessor putting into the software the phrase “as built” for items that are needed where no information is obtained. If the term “as built” needs to be used then the program will default to the worst case scenario based upon what would have been there when the property was built. This may have a negative impact on the {rating of the EPC}

If you can supply documentary proof of these kinds of improvements then these can be shown on the Certificate and will likely enhance the rating of your EPC Certificate.


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

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

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

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

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

These make the biggest difference

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The three 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 typically 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 property or home heated by gas would cost you somewhere in the region of 4.64 pence per kwh and the same property or home heated by bottled LPG 23p per kwh. {*source 2019 Nottingham Energy Partnership.} So using a typically semi-detached using in the region of 12,000 kwh to heat the home, it would cost you £596 to heat by gas when compared with £2,760 for bottled LPG.. Therefore running costs impacts the Energy Performance rating score. 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

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Double glazing
This will come as a bit of a shock, but double glazing does not have as major an effect on the EPC as most people would imagine. Certainly not as much as the heating, the insulation and the type of fuel used in the property as earlier mentioned. However, where it does have a greater effect, is when the property is up-graded from single glazing to double glazing. If you are upgrading 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 usually experienced by the customer in terms of comfort from a reduction in draughts. Unfortunately the EPC doesn’t take into account the condition of any specific item, this comfort gain is not recorded.

 

Low Energy Lights
Again low energy lighting does indeed help the EPC as they are a low cost improvement that makes a contribution to reduced energy costs but nowhere near the same contribution as insulation, heating and heating controls.

Rushden Landlord EPC Services

The rules for property owners are forever increasing. For anyone who is a property owner, be sure that you don’t fall foul of the regulations, as civil penalty charges as high as £5,000 can be issued.

Check out our guidelines for quick advice. We offer discounts for multiple properties.

Letting agent handing over key

EPCs And Rental Properties

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From April 2020, all existing rental properties must have a valid Energy Performance Certificate. Before that date an EPC was only required on new rentals. Penalties and fees 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 supply rented properties that meet a minimum standard of energy efficiency. All rented properties must 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 would need to work closely with the Energy Assessor to work out cost-effective ways to achieve the standards.

In the event 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 provide guidance 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 kept a register of all EPCs. This register is found at www.epcregister.com. You can check here to see if your rentals have a valid Certificate and determine that they meet at least the required E rating.

A recent post in the Telegraph taken from information on the register discovered that around 250,000 investors are yet to conform to the new rules. The information is available here. Ensure you are not one of them. As time goes by, we expect a growing number of Councils to get up to speed with enforcements.

The regulations, however, are not intended to be onerous. The initial 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 taking or have taken steps to attain an E. Even if it doesn’t reach an E, there are specific exemptions that you could then be able to apply for. We can give you 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 Properties Are Exempt From Requiring An EPC?
  • Places of worship.
  • Temporary buildings that will be used for less than two years.
  • Industrial sites and non-residential agricultural buildings that use little energy.
  • Stand-alone buildings (of less than 50 m2 )
  • Residential buildings that are used for less than 4 months of the year.
  • Listed buildings.
  • Are You Able To Let A Property Without An Energy Performance Certificate?
    The simple answer is No. From April 2020 all rental properties need to 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). The rating of an average UK property is a D60 Rental properties should be at least 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 increase 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.

    Is There A Minimum EPC rating to Let A Property?
    Dwellings 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 Penalty For Not Having An EPC?
    A fixed penalty charge of £200 can be issued for failure to comply in the following situations: 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 An EPC Fail?
    Simply no. The EPC is not a pass or fail. Nevertheless, various 3rd parties may require the EPC have a specified score before they decide to proceed. An example might be a financial institution loaning money against a rental property, might require that the EPC is at least an “E”.
    What Does EPC E Mean?
    The Energy Performance Certificate will rate the property either A,B,C,D,E,F, or G. An E rating is the legal minimum a dwelling can be in order to rent out. It is also getting to be the standard required by banks when loaning money against a property.

    It’s not saying you won’t be able to obtain the money if it is below an E, but there will probably be extra 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 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 will be good for a further ten years.
    Is An EPC A Legal Requirement?
    Yes, an Energy Performance Certificate is a legal requirement for all rental properties and properties that are being sold as well as all newly built properties. By law, the incoming occupant has 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 described in the database of Historic England as a listed building. A list can be located 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 would need 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 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 records is presented to the courts correctly.

    Could You Market A Home With No EPC?
    Yes a property may be advertised without an EPC subject to one having been commissioned to be carried out within seven days. If after making all realistic attempts one cannot be obtained within that timeframe, then a further 21 days is allowed to get 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 must be a minimum rating of an E, unless a valid exemption has been applied for.
    How Much Will An EPC Cost
    An Energy Performance Certificate typically costs between £50 – £120. This is determined by size of property and location. Usually it is cheaper if going directly to a licensed Assessor as opposed to using a 3rd party such as an Estate Agent or a marketing company.
    There are plenty of fascinating places and things to see in Rushden and we aim to be the first port of call for an EPC in the area. It’s a terrific place to live and work.
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    Serving The Rushden Area

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    0800 0467 345