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We Are EPC Assessors covering the Springfield 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 Springfield 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 three to five page document that rates the home from an A the highest to G the worst. It will also give suggestions about energy improvements which might be made in the home that might 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 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 construction work you have undertaken. Should you need a SAP EPC, then CLICK HERE. If you’re not certain, just phone us for more advice.

How To Get One Done

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An EPC is done by a certified and approved domestic energy assessor. The Assessor must go to property to get the required information.

Your assessor will take dimensions of the home as well as gather specifics of the existing lighting, heating system, glazing and existing insulation. It may take between 20 and 40 minutes, dependant upon the complexity of the home..

The details are then entered 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 a couple of days. However, should you need to have your EPC quickly, for a small additional charge, we can provide an EPC for you the same day 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.

Tips On How To Improve Your EPC Rating

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

Image of an EPC energy rating

These will improve your EPC rating

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The information put into the software program is based on evidence which the Assessor collects during the visit. Typically the Assessor can get the majority of the information whilst going around the home.

What we should avoid is the Assessor putting into the software program the term “as built” for items that are required where no proof is obtained. If the term “as built” has to be used then the software program will default to the worst case scenario based upon what would have been there when the property was built. EPC rating.

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 enhance the rating of your EPC.


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

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

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

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

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

These make the biggest difference

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The three things that have the most significant effect on the energy rating are:


• The heating system.
• The main source of fuel for heating the property
• The levels of insulation in the property.

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 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 using a typically semi which uses around 12,000 kwh to heat the home, it would cost £596 to heat with gas as compared to £2,760 for bottled LPG.. Therefore running costs impacts the Energy Performance rating rating. 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
This one may come as a bit of a shock, but upvc double glazing does not have as major an effect on the EPC as most people would imagine. Certainly not nearly as much as the heating, the insulation and the type of fuel used as earlier mentioned. Where it does have a more substantial effect, is when your property is up-graded from single glazing to double glazing. If you are upgrading from pre 2002 upvc double glazing, to current double glazing, this will only show as a small rise in the energy rating of the home.

With double glazing the perception is generally noticed by the customer in terms of comfort from a reduction 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 EPC since they are an affordable improvement that makes a contribution to lower energy costs but nowhere near the same contribution as heating, insulation, and heating controls.

Springfield Landlord EPC Services

The rules for property owners are forever increasing. For anybody who is a landlord, be sure that you don’t fall foul of the laws, as civil penalties up to £5,000 could be issued.

Take a look at our guidelines for quick advice. We also offer discounts for several properties.

Letting agent handing over key

EPCs And Rental Properties

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As From April 2020, all current rental properties need to have a valid Energy Performance Certificate. Previous to that date an Certificate was only needed on new rentals. Fines can be issued by the local authority for violation 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 needs to be at least an E. The regulations that control this is called The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard or (MEES) for short. For more information on MEES check out 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 has got to take steps 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 past ten years maintained a register of all Energy Performance Certificates. This register is available at www.epcregister.com. You should check here to see if your rentals have a valid Certificate and determine that they meet at least the required E rating.

A recently available report in the Telegraph taken from information on the register found that around 250,000 landlords are yet to conform to the new rules. The article can be found here. Make sure you are not one of those. Over time, we anticipate more and more Local Authorities to get up to speed with enforcements.

These rules, having said that, are not meant 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 show that you are currently taking or have taken actions to attain an E. Even if it doesn’t achieve an E, there are specific exemptions that you might then be able to apply for. We can provide expect recommendations 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?
  • Stand-alone buildings (of less than 50 m2 )
  • Industrial sites and non-residential agricultural buildings that use little energy.
  • Places of worship.
  • Listed buildings.
  • Residential buildings that are used for less than 4 months of the year.
  • Temporary buildings that will be used for less than two years.
  • Is It Possible To Let A Property Without Having An Energy Performance Certificate?
    The answer is 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 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 average UK property is a D60. Rental properties should be at least an E rating. If it is not an E then the landlord would have to carry out some of the recommendations on the EPC to improve 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.

    What Is The Minimum EPC Rating To Let A Property?
    The minimum EPC rating for rental is an ‘E’. The EPC rates a property from A, the highest to G, the worst. Dwellings rated F or G, after April 2020, cannot legally be let. Energy Efficient improvements 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 may be issued for failure to comply in the following situations: 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. However, different 3rd parties may require the EPC have a specific rating before they choose to proceed. One example would be a bank 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 dwelling can be for you to rent out. It is also getting to be 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, however there are more likely to be extra conditions in the contract.

    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 must 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 is 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. Legally, the inbound resident need to be provided with 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 defined 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 using a section 21 notice (no fault eviction) if they have not provided the tenant with an Energy Performance Certficate. If the EPC is subsequently obtained, a period of 8 weeks has to pass before applying for a section 21 notice.

    In addition to 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 documents is given to the courts correctly.

    Can You Market A Property With No EPC?
    Yes a property can be marketed without having an EPC but only subject to one having been planned to be done within seven days. If after making all reasonable efforts one cannot be obtained within that timeframe, then a further 21 days is permitted to obtain one.
    Is An EPC A Legal Requirement When Renting?
    From 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 must be a minimum rating of an E, unless a valid exemption has been applied for.
    How Much Is An Energy Performance Certificate?
    An Energy Performance Certificate typically costs between £50 – £120. This depends on size of property and location. Usually it will be cheaper if going directly to a certified Assessor as opposed to through a third party for instance an Estate Agent or a marketing company.
    There are many appealing locations and things to see in Springfield and we seek 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 Springfield Area

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    0800 0467 345