A Guide About EPC Certificate
If you are planning to sell or rent your property, you may have heard of the term EPC certificate. But what is it and why do you need it? In this blog post, we will explain everything you need to know about EPC certificate and how to get one for your property.
What is an EPC certificate?
EPC stands for Energy Performance Certificate. It is a document that shows how energy efficient your property is on a scale from A to G, where A is the most efficient and G is the least. The EPC also provides information on the potential energy savings and carbon emissions reduction that you can achieve by making improvements to your property.
An EPC certificate is valid for 10 years and can be used multiple times during that period. However, if you make any significant changes to your property that affect its energy performance, such as installing a new boiler or adding insulation, you will need to get a new EPC certificate.
Why do you need an EPC certificate?
An EPC certificate is a legal requirement for any property that is being sold or rented in the UK. It is part of the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations 2012, which aim to improve the energy efficiency of buildings and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
If you are selling your property, you must have an EPC certificate before you put it on the market. You must also provide a copy of the EPC certificate to any potential buyers or tenants who view your property or request information about it.
If you are renting your property, you must have an EPC certificate before you advertise it for rent. You must also provide a copy of the EPC certificate to any prospective tenants who view your property or sign a tenancy agreement.
If you fail to comply with these regulations, you could face a fine of up to £5,000.
How to get an EPC certificate?
To get an EPC certificate, you need to hire an accredited energy assessor who will visit your property and conduct an assessment. The energy assessor will inspect various aspects of your property, such as the size, layout, construction, heating system, lighting, insulation and ventilation. They will then use a software program to calculate the energy performance rating and produce the EPC certificate.
The cost of getting an EPC certificate varies depending on the size and type of your property and the energy assessor you choose. However, it typically ranges from £35 to £120.
You can find an accredited energy assessor in your area by using the online register at https://www.epcregister.com/. You can also compare prices and reviews of different energy assessors on websites such as https://www.epcgenie.com/ or https://www.epcforyou.co.uk/.
What are the benefits of having an EPC certificate?
Having an EPC certificate can benefit you in several ways:
– It can help you attract more buyers or tenants who are looking for energy efficient properties.
– It can help you negotiate a better price or rent for your property by highlighting its energy performance and potential savings.
– It can help you improve your property’s energy efficiency and reduce your energy bills and carbon footprint by following the recommendations on the EPC certificate.
– It can help you access grants or incentives for making energy efficiency improvements to your property, such as the Green Homes Grant or the Renewable Heat Incentive.
Summary
An EPC certificate is a document that shows how energy efficient your property is and how it can be improved. It is a legal requirement for any property that is being sold or rented in the UK. To get an EPC certificate, you need to hire an accredited energy assessor who will assess your property and produce the document. Having an EPC certificate can benefit you in terms of attracting more buyers or tenants, negotiating a better price or rent, improving your property’s energy efficiency and accessing grants or incentives.