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Fixed Price EPC – only £59

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We Are EPC Assessors covering the Swanley 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 Swanley 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 refers to Energy Performance Certificate. It’s a 3 to 5 page report that rates your property from an A the best to G the lowest. It will also give suggestions about energy improvements that may be made in the property that could help to lower 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 asked by building control to provide an EPC in conjunction with recent building work, they are looking for what’s called a SAP EPC. This particular EPC is called a SAP EPC and is required by building control to show compliance with building regulations for any recent construction work you might have undertaken. If you require a SAP EPC, then CLICK HERE. If you’re unsure, simply contact us for more advice.

How To Get One Done

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An Assessor must undertake a visit to the property to get the necessary information for the EPC. They are certified and must be a continuing member of an approved Government certification scheme.

Your assessor will take dimensions of the property plus gather details about the existing lighting, heating system, glazing and current insulation. An average size property usually takes between 20 and 30 minutes..

The details are then put into approved government software which generates the EPC. The EPC is then lodged on the national EPC register and you should receive it by email typically in 2 to 3 days. However, should you need to have your EPC quickly, for a modest additional fee, we will provide an EPC for you on the same day of the visit. We call this an express EPC.

That’s it, its all completedYour 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.

Ways To Improve Your EPC Rating

Here we will offer you some easy guidelines to ensure that your EPC reflects your property 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 simply going around the property. The data entered into the software is based on evidence gathered during the visit.

Your Assessor has to take photographic or gather documentary information which is important for audit reasons. If no evidence is gathered then the Assessor has to enter the term “as built” into the software. In this situation the software program will use what the property would have been built with based upon it’s age.

If you can provide documentary evidence of these types of improvements to the property then these can be shown on the EPC and will likely increase the rating of your EPC.


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

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

• Roof extensions year it was built – building control sign off, dated architects plans.

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

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

These make the biggest difference

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The three things that have the most significant 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 properties 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 or home heated by gas would cost you around 4.64 pence per kwh and the similar property or home which is heated by bottled LPG 23p per kwh. {*source 2019 Nottingham Energy Partnership.} So using a typically semi using in the region of 12,000 kwh to heat the property, it would cost you £596 to heat with gas when compared to £2,760 for bottled LPG.. Therefore running costs influences the Energy Performance rating score. Higher expenses 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 particular one will come as a bit of a shock, but double glazing does not have as big an impact 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 previously mentioned. However, where it will have a larger effect, is when your property is upgraded from single glazing to double glazing. When you are improving from pre 2002 double glazing, to current double glazing, it will only show as a small increase in the energy rating of the property.

With double glazing the perception is usually felt by the customer in terms of comfort from a decrease in draughts. Because the EPC doesn’t consider the condition of any specific item, this comfort gain is not recorded.

 

Low Energy Lights
Again low energy lighting does help the EPC because they are an affordable improvement that leads to lower energy costs but nowhere near the same contribution as insulation, heating and heating controls.

Swanley Landlord EPC Services

The regulations for property owners are forever increasing. For anyone who is a landlord, ensure that you don’t fall foul of the regulations, as civil fines up to £5,000 can be given.

Take a look at our guidelines for quick advice. We also offer reduced prices for multiple properties.

Letting agent handing over key

EPCs And Rental Properties

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As From April 2020, all existing rented properties must have a valid EPC. Previous to that date an Energy Performance Certificate was only necessary on new rentals. Fines can 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 homes that meet a minimum standard of energy efficiency. All rented properties must 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 reach the minimum.

This is where the landlord must work closely with the Energy Assessor to determine cost-effective methods to reach the standards.

In the event the landlord has spent 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 assistance 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 maintained a register of all EPCs. The register is found at www.epcregister.com. You can check here to see if your rentals have a valid EPC and determine that they meet at least the minimum E rating.

A recent report in the Telegraph taken from information on the register found out that around 250,000 investors are yet to conform to the new regulations. The information is available here. Ensure you are not one of them. Over time, we anticipate an increasing number of Local Authorities 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 should it be lower than an E, to demonstrate that you are taking or have taken steps to reach an E. Even if it doesn’t attain an E, there are certain exemptions that you might then be able to apply for. We can give you expect advice 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 Require An EPC?
  • Industrial sites and non-residential agricultural buildings that use little energy.
  • Residential buildings that are used for less than 4 months of the year.
  • Places of worship.
  • Stand-alone buildings (of less than 50 m2 )
  • Temporary buildings that will be used for less than two years.
  • Listed buildings.
  • Are You Able To Let A Property Without Having An EPC?
    The answer is No. From April 2020 all rental homes 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 best) to G 0 ( the least efficient). The rating of an 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 would need to carry out some of the recommendations on the EPC to lift the rating. If an E rating can not be achieved, 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?
    The minimum EPC rating for rental is an ‘E’. The EPC scores a property from A, the best to G, the lowest. Properties rated F or G, from April 2020, cannot legally be let. Energy-efficient upgrades 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 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 potential buyer or tenant at the earliest opportunity.
    Can You Fail An EPC?
    No. The EPC is not a pass or fail. Nonetheless, different 3rd parties may require the EPC achieve a specified score before they choose to continue. One example would be a bank lending money against a rental property, will require that the EPC is at least an “E”.
    What Does EPC E Mean?
    The EPC 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. Also, it is becoming the baseline required by banking institutions when lending money against a property.

    It’s not to say you won’t be able to obtain the money when it is below an E, although there are more likely to be extra 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 good for a further 10 years.
    Is An EPC A Legal Requirement?
    Indeed, an EPC is a legal requirement for all rental properties and homes which are for sale as well as all newly built properties. By law, the incoming resident 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. 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 given the tenant an Energy Performance Certficate. If the EPC is subsequently obtained, a time period of 8 weeks has to pass before applying for a section 21 notice.

    Along with the EPC 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 proper legal advice to ensure that all paperwork is presented to the courts correctly.

    Can A Property Be Marketed Without Having An EPC?
    Yes a property can be marketed without an EPC but only subject to one having actually been requested to be done within seven days. If after making all realistic efforts one can not be done within that period, then a further 21 days is permitted to get one.
    It Is A Legal Requirement For Renting, To Have An EPC?
    Since April 2020, all dwellings for rental need to have a valid EPC on the EPC register. The EPC rates the energy efficiency of a property 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 EPC?
    The cost of an EPC is normally in the range of £50 – £120. This depends upon size of property and location. Usually it will be cheaper if going straight to a licensed Assessor as opposed to using a third party for instance an Estate Agent or a marketing company.
    Like it or loath it Swanley is really an intriguing place to live and work. Personally, we love it and are delighted to be one of the leading EPC services in the area
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    Serving The Swanley Area

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    0800 0467 345