Starting from December 14th 2007, all properties within the UK which are to be sold or marketed for sale will require an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). On their own, Energy Performance Certificates are valid for 10 years. However, if they are part of a Home Information Pack (HIP), then this is reduced to 3 years. Energy performance certificates are compulsory and must be presented:
- When the property is viewed
- When written information is provided on request
- Before contracts are exchanged
Starting from the 1st October 2008, it is the home owner that is responsible for the energy performance certificate. You can be fined £200 for not ensuring an energy performance certificate is obtained before the sale process has begun (i.e. before you do anything in relation to the sale of your home).
So what is an Energy Performance Certificate?
Energy Performance Certificates provide information about how energy efficient your home is. This is broken down into two parts:
- Information on your home's current energy use and carbon dioxide emissions
- A report recommending suggestions on how to reduce energy use and carbon dioxide emissions
Your energy performance certificate will evaluate your home’s energy use and carbon dioxide emissions using a rating system to judge how efficient it is. The rating system ranks the home’s carbon emission efficiency from an ‘A’ grade to a ‘G’ grade. The ‘A’ grade is the most efficient and the ‘G’ grade is the least efficient. Currently, the ‘D’ grade is the nation’s average energy performance certificate valuation.
The second part of the energy performance certificate is the recommendation report. This is a detailed report with suggestions on how to make your home more energy efficient and reduce your carbon dioxide emissions. This is broken down into three parts:
- Suggested improvements, like fitting cavity wall insulation & loft insulation
- Possible cost savings per year, if the improvements are made
- How the recommendations would change the energy and carbon emission rating of the property
It is not a mandatory requirement to act on any recommendations made within the report. However, as all prospective buyers / occupiers have access to the energy performance certificates, it may influence their decision to see the suggestions implemented and make the property look more attractive.
There are Government grants available for both cavity wall insulations and loft insulations, which are two key ways of saving energy in the home and are often suggested within energy performance certificates. These are great methods for not only increasing energy performance certificate ratings, but also for lowering house hold energy bills!
Needless to say, these will rate highly within the energy performance certificate specifications and will help to make your property receive a higher grade, and look more attractive to any possible buyers.
See more on cavity insulation grants
See more on loft insulation grants
What do energy performance certificates look like?
Energy performance certificates are summarized in two charts that show the energy performance and carbon dioxide emission ratings. These charts will show what grade the house has achieved and what grade it would achieve after the recommendations have been implemented.
How do I get an energy performance certificate?
Energy performance certificates can only be obtained through an accredited energy assessor. These assessors are trained to the accredited standards and be can either self employed or work through companies (such as estate agents or another energy company). They will perform an assessment on your home and provide you with your energy performance certificate once the report is compiled. The amount of time this takes can vary depending on the size of the home.
