EPC – Energy Performance Certificate
Domestic and Commercial EPC?
An energy performance certificate gives you a review of a property’s energy efficiency. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, EPCs are carried out by EPC assessors. The EPC assessor will carry out a brief survey of your home before producing the EPC. The house is then placed on a colour-coded scale from A to G, A being the most efficient with the cheapest fuel bills.
Your house’s EPC rating will depend on:
- The amount of energy used per m2
- The level of carbon dioxide emissions (given in tonnes per year)
Once issued, the EPC will be valid for 10 years – if your EPC is older than this, you’ll need to get a new EPC issued before you can sell or rent your house.
Why do I need an EPC and High Rating?
Every house needs to have a valid EPC before it can be sold. The EPC rating makes for a much easier comparison between houses, particularly when potential buyers are forced to make a tough call between several homes. Even at a glance, almost anyone would opt for
the high-scoring, A-rated, green property over the low scoring, G-rated, red one.
If the latter is the case for your home, don’t worry; the Energy Performance Certificate explains what steps can be taken to improve your EPC rating. So, improving the energy efficiency of your home now will stand you in good stead when it comes to selling. Once you’ve made the improvements, it’s a good idea to have a new survey done to reflect these changes.
As of April 2018, landlords in England and Wales are required by law to get an EPC rating of band E or above to let their properties to new tenancies or renewals.
