An EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) is a report that evaluates a building's energy efficiency and makes recommendations on how it might be increased. It assigns your home a color-coded grade (A–G) that provides prospective tenants (or even buyers) with an indication of how high their energy costs will be.
If you are the owner of one of England’s draughtiest homes, take note: it won’t be permitted to remain that way. Did you know that if your rental property is discovered to have an energy efficiency rating of F or G, landlords might now face fines of up to £5,000? This is due to a change in the legislation that went into effect in 2020/2021 regarding Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings.
The UK’s private leased sector has 6.3% F and G rated dwellings, making it the largest percentage of non-energy efficient homes in the nation. The government crackdown is an effort to increase the overall energy efficiency of buildings in this sector.
Buying and Renting
For Sellers
It is legally required to obtain an EPC for your home before selling it if you are going to sell the property. Either your estate agent or an EPC service may help you arrange this.
Buyers
When purchasing a house, make sure the seller gives you an EPC. They are helpful since they offer suggestions that might guide any modifications you might want to carry out or future costs to increase the overall efficiency of the home. Additionally, you might try to bargain for the price of the property using this information.
Landlords and Tenants
Before accepting any new tenants or renewing current leases, buy-to-let landlords must ensure that their property has an EPC rating of at least E or above.
Before moving in, tenants should make sure their landlords deliver the EPC, and they should utilise the cost breakdown to create a budget.
When is an EPC not required?
- Places of worship.
- Temporary buildings.
- Stand-alone buildings with a floor area of less than 50 square metres.
- Industrial and agricultural buildings with low energy requirements.
- Protected buildings, where compliance with energy efficiency requirements would unacceptably alter their character or appearance.
- Rented dwellings that continue to be occupied by the same tenant since before 1 October 2008.
- Buildings that are suitable for demolition.
How Long Do EPCs Last?
The life of an EPC is ten years. In 2007, they were brought to England and Wales. This implies that your certificate can already be valid depending on when you moved into your house. You may check if you have one and whether it is still valid using the EPC register’s look-up function.
