EPC Sutton

by | May 10, 2020

Need an EPC in Sutton?

Fixed Price EPC – only £69

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EPC

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We Are EPC Assessors covering the Sutton 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 Sutton 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: Ewell, Broad Green, Merton, Croydon, Croydon, Merton, Epsom, Wimbledon, Kingston upon Thames, Manor Park

What is An EPC?

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An EPC is a legal report that gives advice on energy saving actions that can easily make a home inexpensive to run. EPC stands for Energy Performance Certificate. Much the same as the energy rating seen on home appliances, it will give the home a rating between an A (100) to a G (0). A typical UK residence 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 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 produced along with SAP calculations to demonstrate that building work has met certain standards required by the building regulations. If you’re uncertain, 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 visit the property to get the necessary information.

Your assessor will take dimensions of the property plus gather information regarding the existing lighting, heating system, glazing and present insulation. A typical size home takes between 20 and 30 minutes..

The details are then entered into approved government software which then creates the EPC. The Energy Performance Certificate will then be lodged on the national EPC register and you will receive it by email typically in a couple of days. However, should you need to have your EPC urgently, for a small additional charge, we can provide an EPC for you on the same day of the visit. We call this an express EPC.

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 Enhance Your EPC Rating

Here we will offer you some easy guidelines so 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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Typically your Assessor should be able to get a lot 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 should prevent is the Assessor putting into the software program the term “as built” for items that will be required where no evidence is obtained. 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 rating.

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


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

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

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

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

• Roof extensions year it was constructed – completion certificate, dated architects plans.

These make the biggest difference

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The 3 mains things that have the biggest 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 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 instance a property or home heated by gas would cost around 4.64 pence per kwh and the identical property or home heated by bottled LPG 23p per kwh. {*source 2019 Nottingham Energy Partnership.} So using a typically semi which uses in the region of 12,000 kwh to heat the home, it would cost £696 to heat with gas in comparison to £2,760 for bottled LPG.. Therefore running costs influences the Energy Performance rating rating. 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
Although improvements to the double glazing can make a difference, the biggest increase is actually really achieved when you are improving from single glazed to doubled glazed. If you are simply modernising from pre 2002 upvc double glazing, it will only show as a small increase in the energy rating of the home. With upvc double glazing the perception is typically noticed by the customer in terms of cosiness from a reduction in draughts. Because the EPC doesn’t consider the condition of any specific item, this kind of comfort gain is simply not measured.

 

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

Sutton Landlord EPC Services

The regulations for landlords are forever increasing. For anyone who is a property owner, be sure that you don’t fall foul of the laws, as civil penalties up to £5,000 can be given.

Have a look at our guidelines for quick information. We offer reduced prices for a number of properties.

Letting agent handing over key

EPCs And Rental Properties

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From April 2020, all current rented properties should have a valid Energy Performance Certificate. Previous to that date an Energy Performance Certificate was only needed on new rentals. Penalties may 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 provide rented properties that meet a minimum standard of energy efficiency. An energy rating of at least an E much be reached on all rented properties If it is an F or a G rating, then the landlord will need to take steps to reach the minimum.

This is where the landlord needs to work closely with the Energy Assessor to determine cost-effective methods to reach 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 give 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 past 10 years managed a register of all Energy Performance Certificates. The register can be found at www.epcregister.com. You can check here to find out if your rentals have a valid Certificate and determine that they meet at least the minimum E rating.

A recent report in the Telegraph taken from information on the register discovered that around 250,000 investors are yet to comply with the new regulations. This article is available here. Ensure you are not among them. As time passes, we anticipate an increasing number of Local Authorities to get up to speed with enforcements.

The policies, nevertheless, are not intended to be onerous. The first step to take is to get an EPC lodged on the register and if it is less than an E, to demonstrate you are taking or have taken steps to get to an E. Even if it doesn’t achieve an E, there are certain 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.
What Properties Do Not Need To Have An EPC?
  • Places of worship.
  • 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.
  • Temporary buildings that will be used for less than two years.
  • Listed buildings.
    • Can You Let A Property Without Having An Energy Performance Certificate?
    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 typical UK property is a D60 Rental properties need to be a minimum of an E rating. If it is not an E then the property owner would need to carry out some of the recommendations on the EPC to improve the rating. If an E rating cannot be achieved, 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?
    Dwellings rented out in the private market will be required to possess an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) with a minimum energy performance rating of ‘E’. It will be unlawful 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 fixed penalty charge of £200 can be given 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?
    Simply no. The EPC is not a pass or fail. Nonetheless, different 3rd parties may require the EPC achieve a certain rating before they decide to proceed. An example might be a financial institution loaning money against a rental property, might require 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 property can be for you to rent out. Also, it is becoming the standard requested by banking institutions when loaning money against a home.

    It’s not saying you won’t be able to obtain the funds if it is below an E, although there will probably be added 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 above. All EPCs are lodged on a national register at epcregister.com. The EPC will be valid for a further 10 years.
    Is An EPC A Legal Requirement?
    Indeed, an Energy Performance Certificate is a legal requirement for all rental properties and properties that are for sale 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 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. This list is available 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 EPC. If an 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 would 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 proper legal advice so that all records is presented to the courts correctly.

    Can A Home Be Marketed Without An EPC?
    Yes a property may be advertised without an EPC subject to one having been planned 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 obtain one.
    It Is A Legal Requirement For Renting, To Have An EPC?
    From April 2020, all properties for rental will 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 will depend on the size of property and location. Typically it is cheaper if going directly to an approved Assessor rather than using a 3rd party for instance an Estate Agent or a marketing company.
    We love Sutton and we are pleased to be among the finest EPC providers in the region. {Get in touch.}
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    Serving The Sutton Area

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    Call Free 0800-046-7345
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