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What is an Energy Performance Certificate?
An Energy Performance Certificate (or EPC) is a five or six page document outlining the Energy Efficiency and Environmental Impact of a Residential Property. These must be available to buyers and tenants prior to the sale or letting of a property. An EPC is valid for ten years and can be used for subsequent sales or lettings during this period.
EPCs were introduced as a result of a European Union Directive. The aim is to provide more information to prospective residents about the likely energy costs of providing heating and hot water within a property.
In the current economic climate, where many people's incomes are being squeezed, and with higher than inflation gas and electric price increases, the EPC provides recommendations as to how you can reduce the cost of providing the heating and hot water within your home.
One of the most important (many say the most important) issue today is Climate Change caused by human activity. The EPC summarises the Environmental Impact of a property and provides recommendations that will help reduce the carbon footprint within your home.
If you are letting or selling a property, it is important to note that the EPC provides recommendation. You are not obliged to carry out these recommendations. However a property with a good energy rating is more desirable and may be easier to sell or let. In particular within the lettings market, a property with a poor energy rating may be harder to let or tenants may move out more frequently should they find it difficult or expensive to heat.
What does it involve?
In order to produce an EPC, you must employ a qualified Domestic Energy Assessor to survey the property. The survey typically takes around 40 minutes for a flat and around an hour for a house (although this depends on the size, shape and design of the property). The Assessor looks at the following features.
- the age and type of construction
- the presence of any extensions, conservatories and porches.
- the floor area and room heights
- the position of the property in relation to neighbouring properties
- the presence of wall and loft insulation
- the system used to provide heating and hot water
- the number and types of windows
