WHAT IS AN EPC?
The most efficient homes – which should have the lowest fuel bills – are in band A. The Certificate will tell you on a scale of A-G, the energy efficiency of your home along with the potential scale after improvements are made, with ‘A’ being the most efficient home. Better-rated homes should have less impact through Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions, the EPC will show the amount of CO2 emissions produced by that property in tonnes, and will advise on the amount this could be reduced by.
The average property in the UK is in bands D-E for both ratings. The Certificate includes recommendations on ways to improve the home’s energy efficiency to save you money and help the environment. EPCs apply also to commercial buildings and are rated only by Carbon Dioxide emission ratings on a scale of A-G.
Since April 2018, the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) have required all privately rented properties in England and Wales to have an EPC rating of at least ‘E’ before being sold or let. This applies to both domestic and commercial properties, with some exemptions (e.g. listed buildings).
As of April 2023, all non-domestic properties must also meet this standard, regardless of tenancy changes. The government plans to raise the minimum rating to ‘C’ by 2027 and ‘B’ by 2030.
Failure to comply can result in fines of up to £5,000 for domestic properties and £150,000 for non-domestic properties.
If you require an EPC you will need an accredited Energy Assessor to conduct an energy assessment.
The Energy Assessor will need to access all rooms as well as the loft. They are also required to inspect heating systems and controls, take measurements and take photographs of all key data included in the survey. The survey is non invasive and a visual inspection is all that is required. You can ask the assessor how long he expects to be as the time varies between properties.
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