Energy Performance Certificates Help and Advice

What is an EPC?
The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) gives home owners, tenants and buyers information on the energy efficiency of their property. It gives the building a standard energy and carbon emission efficiency grade from 'A' to 'G', where 'A' is the most efficient and with the average to date being D.

In addition to the rating for your current energy performance, part of the EPC report will list the potential rating that your home could achieve (using the same 'A' to 'G' scale), if you were to make the recommendations that are provided within the report. It is not mandatory to act on the report's recommendations. However, doing so may cut your energy bills, reduce your carbon emissions and make your property more attractive to tenants and buyers.

Who needs an EPC?
The EPC is required by law when a building is constructed, sold or put up for rent. All sellers of homes need to ensure that they provide a Home Information Pack which includes an EPC for potential buyers. An EPC must be made available to a potential homebuyer - free of charge.

If you are a landlord, you'll need to make an EPC available to prospective tenants the first time you let a home after 1 October 2008. An EPC is only required for a property which is self-contained and is valid for 10 years. However, an EPC isn't required when a tenant rents a room and shares facilities.

How do you get an EPC?
EPCs can only be produced as a result of a survey by an 'accredited' Domestic Energy Assessor. EPCs are used to collect standard information on the property - for example, its size and hot water/heating systems. The information is then fed into a government-approved software programme which produces the EPC. The cost of an EPC for the average house is around £100 and it will take a similar amount of time to obtain as a house valuation report that is required when selling a property.

For further information, please visit the government EPC website here.