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We Are EPC Assessors covering the Stone 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 Stone is £69.

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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An EPC is a legal report that gives advice on energy saving actions that can make a property more cost-effective to run. EPC is short for Energy Performance Certificate. Much the same as the energy score seen on home appliances, it will give the home a score between an A (100) to a G (0). An average UK home is rated at a D60.

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 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 are looking for what’s called a SAP EPC. This particular EPC is known as 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, just phone us for more guidance.

How To Get One Done

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An Assessor has to undertake a visit to the property to get the required data for the Energy Performance Certificate. They are qualified and must be a continuing member of an approved Government accreditation scheme.

The assessor will take dimensions of the property plus gather information about the existing lighting, heating, glazing and present insulation. It takes anywhere between 20 and 40 minutes, depending upon the complexity of the home..

The information is then put into approved government software which then generates the certificate. The Certificate will then be 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 urgently, for a small additional cost, we will 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.

How You Can Enhance Your EPC Rating

Here we will provide you with some easy guidelines so your Energy Performance Certificate reflects your property 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 will be able to get almost all of the information they need simply by going around the property. The data entered into the software is based on evidence gathered during the visit.

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

Whenever you can supply documentary evidence of these kinds of improvements to the property then this can be shown on the Certificate and will probably increase the rating of your EPC Certificate.


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

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

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

• Floor insulation/ sloping ceiling insulation – receipt from contractors showing thickness installed.

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

These make the biggest difference

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The 3 mains things that have the main impact 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 homes are generally 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 heated by gas would cost around 4.64 pence per kwh and the identical property which is 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 £696 to heat with gas compared to £2,760 for bottled LPG.. Therefore running costs influences 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 may come as a bit of a shock, but double glazing does not have as major an impact on the EPC as most people would think. Certainly not nearly as much as the heating, the insulation and the type of fuel used as mentioned above. Where it can have a more substantial impact, is if your property is up-graded from single glazing to double glazing. If you are updating from pre 2002 double glazing, to current double glazing, this would only show as a small rise in the energy rating of the home.

With double glazing the perception is usually noticed 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 lights does indeed help the Energy Performance Certificate because they are an inexpensive improvement that leads to cheaper energy costs but nowhere near the same contribution as insulation, heating and heating controls.

Stone Landlord EPC Services

The rules for landlords are forever increasing. For anybody who is a landlord, make certain you don’t fall foul of the laws, as civil penalty charges as high as £5,000 can be given.

Look at our guidelines for quick information. We provide reduced prices for a number of properties.

Letting agent handing over key

EPCs And Rental Properties

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From April 2020, all existing rented properties should have a valid Energy Performance Certificate. Prior to that date an EPC was only necessary on new rentals. Penalties and fees can be issued by the local authority for infringement of this.

What Is The Minimum Rating For A Rental Property

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An EPC rates the property from an A, the very best, to a G the lowest. To legally rent a property, the energy rating needs to be not less than an E. The regulations that govern this is known as The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard or (MEES) in 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 has to do something 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 10 years managed a register of all Energy Performance Certificates. The register is located at www.epcregister.com. You should check here to see if your properties have a valid Certificate and see that they meet at least the required E rating.

A recently available post in the Telegraph taken from information on the register found out 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 them. As time passes, we anticipate more and more local authorities to get up to speed with enforcements.

The regulations, having said that, are not intended to be onerous. The initial step to take is to get an EPC lodged on the register and should it be below an E, to demonstrate you are taking or have taken actions 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 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 Properties Are Exempt From Needing 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 Energy Performance Certificate?
    The 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 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 average UK property is a D60. Rental properties have to be a minimum of an E rating. If it is not an E then the landlord will need to undertake some of the recommendations on the EPC to increase the rating. If an E rating cannot 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?
    The minimum EPC rating for rental is an ‘E’. The EPC scores the property from A, the best to G, the lowest. Properties rated F or G, from April 2020, cannot legally be let. Energy Efficient improvements will need to be made, or a valid exemption applied for.
    What Is Penalty For Not Having An EPC?
    A fixed penalty charge of £200 may be given for failure to comply in the following circumstances: on sale or rent the vendor 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?
    Simply no. The EPC is not a pass or fail. Nevertheless, different 3rd parties may require the EPC achieve a specified score before they choose to continue. One example would be a bank loaning money against a rental property, will 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 dwelling can be to be able to rent out. Also, it is becoming the baseline required by banking institutions when loaning money against a property.

    It’s not to say you won’t be able to borrow the funds when it is below an E, although there are more likely to be extra conditions in the contract.

    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 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 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 properties which are for sale as well as all newly built properties. By law, the inbound resident need to be given 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. The list is available 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 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 in addition to 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 paperwork is given to the courts correctly.

    Can You Market A Home Without An EPC?
    Yes a property can be marketed without an EPC subject to one having been commissioned to be done within seven days. If after making all reasonable attempts one cannot be acquired within that period, then a further 21 days is permitted to acquire one.
    Is It A Legal Requirement For An EPC When Renting?
    From 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 needs to be a minimum rating of an E, unless a valid exemption has been applied for.
    What Is The Cost Of An Energy Performance Certificate?
    The price of an Energy Performance Certificate is normally in the range of £50 – £120. This is determined by size of property and location. Typically it will be cheaper if going straight to a licensed Assessor instead of via a third party like an Estate Agent or a marketing company.
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