What is an Energy Certificate?
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is used to estimate the energy efficiency of a property. Having this information is extremely important, both for potential buyers and tenants, as the Energy Certificate contains information about the typical energy consumption costs of the property and also provides effective recommendations which could enable you to make your property more energy efficient. The Energy Certificate document is very important, as without an EPC rating, a property cannot be sold, rented or even constructed in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Who is responsible for obtaining an Energy Certificate?
The landlord, home owner or the seller of the property hold the responsibility of carrying out all required provisions necessary to obtain an Energy Certificate. The EPC inspection must also be paid for prior to entering into a sale or a lease agreement with a tenant or a buyer.
What is the procedure for obtaining an Energy Certificate?
The process of obtaining an energy performance certificate is a simple one. First things first, the survey is conducted by Domestic Energy Assessors which is regulated by the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulation 2012.
The owner of the property has to book the EPC inspection with their local branch. The qualified tradespeople will then visit the property in question, inspecting its key areas, for example, loft and structural insulation, windows for double glazing, among other factors. After thorough checks the Domestic Energy Assessors will calculate the energy efficiency of the property, issuing an Energy Certificate with recommendations attached. An RDSAP program will be used for guidance, in order to provide the most efficient and customised recommendations, tailored to the property at hand. The main aim of this is to ensure that the property is as energy efficient as possible. The Energy Certificate will also inform you about estimated financial costs for implementing these changes and the potential savings you could make once amendments have been carried out.
Energy Certificates use a scale of A to G to rank the energy performance of a property. A+ is the highest ranking that can be obtained, showing that the property is very energy efficient. G on the other hand, is the lowest rank, reflecting very poor energy efficiency. In practice, this would be seen most clearly by higher energy bills. New-build properties usually have higher EPC ratings, whereas older buildings fall into the lower ratings. Most properties in the UK between the D or E bands.
How to improve your EPC after it has been checked and the necessary recommendations have been made?
As mentioned above, an Energy Certificate will provide you with crucial recommendations, focussed on how the energy efficiency of your property could be improved and the estimated costs of this procedure. Generally, these recommendations would cover structural changes, for example, opting for double glazing as it is an efficient way to keep heat inside your home. Improving the insulation of the property is a key factor, as it is one of the main determinators of how the Energy Certificate ranking will conclude. The better the insulation of the property (be that walls, the floor or the roof) the lower your energy bill will be. Smaller changes can also be beneficial, for example, opting for more energy efficient lighting. This does not require any structural changes to your property and is an easy way to lower energy bills. A more costly recommendation could be opting for solar panels. Although instalment may be more expensive, for the long term, solar panels would enable you to keep energy consumption levels low.
Can I rent or sell my property without an Energy certificate?
An Energy Certificate must have been pre-ordered or obtained before selling or renting out your property.
How long does an energy performance certificate last?
An Energy Certificate will be valid for 10 years. Some properties may already have an Energy Certificate so it is important to double-check. This can be done through the EPC register look-up tool. Here you will find out if the property in question has had an EPC inspection and whether it is still valid.
What is the cost of an Energy Certificate?
The main factors that may influence the cost of your EPC check are these: property type, the location of the property, the number of rooms it has, among others.
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The price of an EPC inspection will also be influenced by the company you opt for. MyConstructor specialises in EPC checks and will connect you with experienced and trustworthy tradespeople from just £36. Our services are available across the UK and our team of experts can provide you with a quote today.
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EPC inspections not only enable you to save money on your energy bill and other unnecessary expenses, but it also enables you to access recommendations put together by professionals of the trade. Their aim is to make your home as energy efficient as possible. The ultimate goal is to save money and live in a way that is environmentally friendly. Improving the energy efficiency of your property is an important step towards reducing your impact on growing emissions. Every little counts towards improving the world we live in, and as small as an EPC check might seem on the grand scale of things, it still has a positive impact.
In conclusion, improving the energy efficiency of your home will offer you significant long term benefits, not only to your savings but also to the environment. An efficient property will consume less electricity and water and will play a part in reducing greenhouse gasses that are fuelled by the use of fossil fuels. Your home is a key place where you have the flexibility and opportunity to do your part in combatting climate change, helping the creation of a better environment for the future generations to come.
