Frequently Asked Questions
If Not sure what you need? Our FAQs are designed to answer the most common enquiries we receive
What is an EPC? Understanding Energy Performance Certificates
How We Carry Out an EPC A Quick Guide for Homeowners, Landlords, and Tenants
What we need to access Making your assessments Quick and easy
What is an EPC?
An EPC or Energy Performance Certificate is a legal document which must come with every home sold or rented in the UK. Your EPC shows the estimated heating, lighting and hot water costs of the property and also the carbon emissions, averaged over three years. The certificate also gives practical advice on how to reduce energy costs and improve the carbon footprint of your home. It is a legal requirement to produce the certificate when selling or renting your home.
Who is responsible for obtaining an EPC?
This depends on the situation: If a building is being sold or put up for rental then the responsibility lies with the property owner who must obtain an EPC and include it in any marketing media produced for the purposes of selling or letting the property. If the building is newly constructed, then the responsibility lies with the builder of the property, who must supply an EPC to the person or company commissioning the construction within 5 days of completion.
Is there a penalty for not providing an EPC?
In short: yes. Fines of between £500 and £5000 may be levied against an offender, based on the rateable value of the building.
What happens if my home gets a low rating?
All EPC's rate a property on an A-G scale in order of their energy efficiency and carbon emissions data. A low score simply suggests that the energy efficiency of the property could be improved. Each EPC comes with a recommendation report, which identifies practical ways for the property's energy efficiency to be improved. Implementation of these recommendations could see your rating improve and carbon emissions drop, but perhaps more importantly, it could lead to a significant reduction in the cost of energy bills. There is, however, no legal requirement to carry-out the recommendations included in the report.
Do I need a new EPC every time I sell or rent to a prospective buyer or tenant?
No. An EPC is valid for 10 years and can be used as many times as required within this period. However, once this EPC has expired it is a legal requirement to replace it with a new one.
Are any buildings exempt from providing an EPC?
Yes. The following buildings are exempt from having to provide an EPC:
* Buildings used as places of worship and for religious activities,
* Stand-alone buildings of less than 50 m2 that are not dwellings,
* Industrial sites, workshops and non-residential agricultural buildings with low energy demand,
* Temporary buildings with a planned time of use of 2 years or less, and
* Non-residential agricultural buildings which are in use by a sector covered by a national sectoral agreement on energy performance.
Do buildings that have been extended or modified require an EPC?
Should construction work undertaken to a building include work to change the number of parts designed or altered for separate use or include the provision or extension of any fixed services for heating, hot water, air conditioning and mechanical ventilation, then the building will require a new EPC. This must be provided by the builder, to the owner of the property within 5 days of completion.