Need an EPC in Wellingborough?
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The EPC Company covering your area
epcHome is an EPC provider doing EPCs throughout Wellingborough along with the surrounding areas. If you’re renting or selling a property, you’ll need an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) completed by an approved Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA). Our typical charge to do an EPC in Wellingborough is simply £55 inclusive.
Exactly What Is An EPC? – Steph Explains Below.
Lots of people are uncertain of what an EPC is before they call us. Our explainer video below will help. Or you can always read the quick explanation.
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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Why You Need One
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• 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 will be looking for what’s called a SAP EPC. This type of EPC is produced along with SAP calculations to show that building work has met specified standards required by the building regulations. If you’re not certain, simply phone us for further advice.
How To Get One Done
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The assessor will take dimensions of the home and also obtain information regarding the existing lighting, heating, glazing and present insulation. It takes anywhere between 20 and 40 minutes, depending upon the complexity of the property..
The obtained information then input approved government software which then creates the certificate. The EPC will be lodged on the national EPC register and you should receive it by email typically in a couple of days. However, should you require your EPC quickly, for a small 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 done. Your EPC is then valid for ten years
- Click the BOOK ONLINE button below
- Select an available date and time slot
- Give us your name and the address requiring the EPC
- Pay securely online
- 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 To Boost Your EPC Score
Here we will offer you some basic tips to ensure that your Energy Performance Certificate reflects your property in the best light.
These things will improve your EPC score
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The Assessor must take photographic or obtain documentary information that is needed for audit purposes. If no evidence 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 based on it’s age.
Whenever you can supply documentary proof of these kinds of improvements then this can be shown on the Certificate and will likely increase the rating of your EPC.
• Double glazing improvements made to the majority of the property – Certificate from Fensa, or dated receipt from the installers.
• Any type of wall insulation Cavity/Internal/External– {guarantee, or receipt from installer.}.
• Solar Thermal, or Solar PV – An MCS certificate from contractor.
• Sloping ceiling insulation/ floor insulation – receipt from installers showing thickness installed.
• Roof conversions year it was constructed – completion certificate, dated architectural plans.
These make the biggest difference
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• The levels of insulation in the property.
• The heating system.
• The main source of fuel for heating the property
Main Source of Fuel
UK properties 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 you 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 in the region of 12,000 kwh to heat the home, it would cost you £556 to heat by gas compared to £2,760 for bottled LPG.. Therefore running costs influences the Energy Performance rating score. Higher expenses 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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This one may come as a shock, but double glazing does not have as major an impact 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 mentioned above. However, where it does have a larger effect, is if the property is up-graded from single glazing to double glazing. When you are upgrading 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 generally felt by the customer in terms of comfort from a reduction in draughts. Because 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 since they are a low cost improvement that makes a contribution to reduced energy costs but nowhere near the same contribution as heating controls, heating system, and insulation.
Wellingborough Landlord EPC Services
The rules for property owners are forever increasing. If you are a property owner, make certain you don’t fall foul of the laws, as civil fines of up to £5,000 can be issued.
Take a look at our guidelines for quick information. We also provide reduced prices for a number of properties.
EPCs And Rental Properties
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What Is The Minimum Rating For A Rental Property
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This is when the landlord must work closely with the Energy Assessor to determine cost-effective solutions 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 advice all the way.
How To Find If You Have A Valid EPC
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A recent article in the Telegraph taken from information on the register discovered that around 250,000 landlords are yet to conform to the new rules. This article is available here. Make sure you are not one of those. As time passes, we anticipate a lot more Local Authorities to get up to speed with enforcements.
These regulations, however, are not intended to be onerous. The initial step to take is to get an EPC lodged on the register and if it is less than an E, to show that you are currently taking or have taken actions to get to an E. Even if it doesn’t attain an E, there are certain exemptions that you may then be able to apply for. We can give you expect recommendations on all aspects 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 Dwellings Are Exempt From Requiring An EPC?
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 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). An average UK property is a D60. Rental properties need to be at the least an E rating. If it is not an E then the property owner will need to undertake some of the recommendations on the EPC to lift the rating. If an E rating can not be reached, 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 best to G, the worst. Dwellings rated F or G, from April 2020, cannot legally be let. Energy-efficient improvements will have to be made, or a valid exemption applied for.
What Is Penalty For Not Having An EPC?
A fixed penalty charge of £200 can be issued for failure to comply in the following circumstances: on sale or rent the owner 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 have a specified score before they decide to proceed. An example would be a financial institution lending 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 your property either A,B,C,D,E,F, or G. An E rating is the legal minimum a property can be so as to rent out. Also, it is becoming the baseline requested by financial institutions when lending money against a property.
It’s not to say you won’t be able to borrow the funds when it is below an E, however there are more likely to be additional conditions in the contract.
What Happens If An EPC Runs Out During A Tenancy?
It will simply 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 Energy Performance Certificate is a legal requirement for all rental properties and properties that are for sale as well as all newly built properties. Legally, the inbound resident must be given an EPC.
Are All Listed Buildings Exempt From An EPC?
All listed buildings are exempt from requiring an EPC. A listed building is one as being defined in the database of Historic England as a listed building. This list is available at https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/
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 the EPC is subsequently obtained, a period of 8 weeks has to pass before applying for a section 21 notice.
As well as 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 correct legal advice so that all documentation is presented to the courts correctly.
Can A Home Be Marketed With No EPC?
Yes a property may be advertised without having an EPC subject to one having been booked to be done within seven days. If after making all reasonable efforts one can not be done within that period, then a further 21 days is allowed to acquire one.
Is It A Legal Requirement For An EPC When Renting?
Since 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 property 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 Does An EPC Cost
The cost of an Energy Performance Certificate is usually in the range of £50 – £120. This depends upon size of property and location. Usually it will be cheaper if going directly to an approved Assessor as opposed to using a third party for instance an Estate Agent or a marketing company.
Many people really like Wellingborough, others don’t. We certainly adore it. It’s an incredible location to live and work and has many appealing things in the area. We aim to be the top rated EPC company assisting the community.