EPC St Neots

by | May 10, 2020

Need an EPC in St Neots?

Fixed Price EPC – only £69

Call Free (0800) 0467 345
EPC

our services

We Are EPC Assessors covering the St Neots 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 St Neots is £69.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK ONLINE

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.
We also cover these nearby areas: East End, Hilton, Stratford, Huntingdon, Chapel End, Biggleswade, Bedford, St Ives, Queens Park, Upton

What is An EPC?

More Info
EPC refers to Energy Performance Certificate. It’s a three to five page report that rates the home from an A the highest to G the worst. It will also give advice on energy improvements which might be made on the home that will help to reduce your energy bills.

Why You Need One

More Info
The most common reason for requiring an Energy Performance Certificate is for anyone who is selling or renting a home. The reason being, by law, you have to give the incoming resident a valid Energy Performance. These are among the other reasons you may be asked to produce an EPC.

• 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 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 kind of EPC is called a SAP EPC and is necessary for building control to demonstrate compliance with building regulations for any recent development work you might have undertaken. In case you need a SAP EPC, then CLICK HERE. If you’re not certain, simply contact us for further guidance.

How To Get One Done

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

The assessor will take dimensions of the home and also obtain details about the current lighting, heating, glazing and existing insulation. An average size home will take around 20 and 30 minutes..

The details are then entered into approved government software which creates the EPC. The Energy Performance 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 require it quickly, for a small additional charge, we are able to arrange for you to get it the same day.

That’s it, its all done. Your EPC is then valid for ten years

LANDLORDS - ARE YOU UP TO DATE?
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.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK ONLINE
Call Free 0800-0467-345

How You Can Improve Your EPC Score

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

Image of an EPC energy rating

These things will enhance your EPC rating

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

The Assessor has to take photographic or obtain documentary information that is important for audit reasons. If no proof is gathered then the Assessor must enter the term “as built” into the software. In this instance the software program will use what the property would have been built with determined by it’s age.

If you can supply documentary evidence of any of these sorts of improvements then these can be shown on the EPC and will probably improve the rating of your EPC Certificate.

• Loft conversions year it was built – building control sign off, dated architectural drawings.

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

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

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

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

These make the biggest difference

More Info
The 3 mains items that have the main impact on the energy rating are:


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

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 instance a home heated by gas would cost around 4.64 pence per kwh and the identical home 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 £696 to heat by gas when compared with £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

More Info
Double glazing
Although improvements to the double glazing can make a difference, the biggest difference is actually really achieved when you are improving from single glazing to doubled glazing. If you are upgrading from pre 2002 upvc double glazing, it will only show as a modest improvement in the energy rating of the home. With upvc double glazing the perception is generally noticed by the customer in terms of cosiness from a decrease in draughts. Since the EPC doesn’t take into account the condition of any particular object, this kind of comfort gain is not measured.

 

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

St Neots Landlord EPC Services

The rules for property owners are forever increasing. For anybody who is a property owner, make certain you don’t fall foul of the regulations, as civil penalties as high as £5,000 may be given.

Look at our guidelines for quick advice. We also offer reductions for multiple properties.

Letting agent handing over key

EPCs And Rental Properties

More Info
From April 2020, all existing rented properties should have a valid Energy Performance Certificate. Previous to that date an EPC was only needed on new rentals. Penalties and fees may be issued by the local authority for violation of this.

What Is The Minimum Rating For A Rental Property

More Info
The Minimum Energy Efficiency Scheme (MEES) puts an onus on landlords to supply rented homes that meet a minimum standard of energy efficiency. All rented properties need to be a minimum of an energy rating of an E. If it is an F or a G rating, then the landlord must take steps to attain the minimum.

This is where the landlord needs to work closely with the Energy Assessor to work out cost-effective solutions to reach 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 advice all the way.

How To Find If You Have A Valid EPC

More Info
The Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government have for the past ten years maintained a register of all Energy Performance Certificates. The register can be found at www.epcregister.com. You can check here to see if your rentals have a valid EPC and see that they meet at least the minimum E rating.

A recent post in the Telegraph taken from information on the register found out that around 250,000 investors are yet to comply with the new rules. The article is available here. Make sure you are not one of them. As time passes, we anticipate a growing number of local authorities 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 should it be lower than an E, to show you are taking or have taken steps to attain an E. Even if it doesn’t attain an E, there are specific exemptions that you may then be able to apply for. We can provide expect guidance 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.
Which Properties Are Exempt From Requiring An EPC?
  • Temporary buildings that will be used for less than two years.
  • Stand-alone buildings (of less than 50 m2 )
  • Places of worship.
  • Industrial sites and non-residential agricultural buildings that use little energy.
  • Residential buildings that are used for less than 4 months of the year.
  • Listed buildings.
    • Can You Let A Property Without An Energy Performance Certificate?
    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 needs 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 typical UK property is a D60 Rental properties have to be at the least an E rating. If it is not an E then the property owner will need to carry out some of the recommendations on the EPC to raise 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.

    What Is The Minimum EPC Rating To Let A Property?
    Properties 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 property which does not have a minimum E rating unless the property has an exemption.
    What Is The Fine For Not Having An EPC?
    A set penalty charge of £200 can be given for failure to comply in the following instances: 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 You Fail An EPC?
    Simply no. The EPC is not a pass or fail. Nevertheless, different 3rd parties may require the EPC achieve a specified rating before they choose to proceed. One example would be a bank loaning money against a rental property, would require that 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. Also, it is getting to be the standard required by banking institutions when loaning money against a home.

    It’s not to say you won’t be able to obtain the money if it is below an E, although there are more likely to be additional conditions in the arrangement.

    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 homes that are being sold as well as all newly built properties. By law, the inbound resident need to be provided with an EPC.
    Are All Listed Buildings Exempt From An EPC?
    All listed properties are exempt from requiring an EPC. A listed building is one as being identified 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 began or was renewed after 1 October 2015, a landlord cannot evict using a section 21 notice (no fault eviction) if they have not given the tenant an Energy Performance Certficate. If the EPC is subsequently obtained, a period of 8 weeks needs to pass before applying for a section 21 notice.

    Along with 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 that all records is presented to the courts correctly.

    Could You Market A Property Without An EPC?
    Yes a property may be advertised without an EPC subject to one having been planned to be done within 7 days. If after making all reasonable attempts one can not be done within that timeframe, then a further 21 days is permitted to obtain one.
    It Is A Legal Requirement For Renting, To Have An EPC?
    From April 2020, all properties for rental must have a valid EPC on the EPC register. The EPC rates the energy efficiency of a home from A-G. For rental, the EPC needs to 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 will depend on the size of property and location. Typically it is cheaper if going directly to an approved Assessor rather than using a third party like an Estate Agent or a marketing company.
    What’s good about St Neots. 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 St Neots Area

    CLICK HERE TO BOOK ONLINE
    Call Free 0800-046-7345
    Contact

    EPCHOME WEBSITE

    OWNED BY ENERGYSMART BEDFORD

    Call Us

    0800 0467 345

    EMAIL US

    [email protected]