Are you considering selling your property in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland? If so, it's essential to obtain an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) before listing your property, as prospective buyers may request to review this certificate. In Scotland, sellers are required to provide a comprehensive 'home report,' which includes an EPC, a survey, and a property questionnaire, offering a more detailed analysis of the home.
An EPC is a document that assesses properties based on their energy efficiency, ranging from A (highest efficiency) to G (lowest efficiency). It provides insights into a property's energy usage, costs, and recommendations for improving efficiency and reducing running expenses, such as installing insulation or using energy-saving lightbulbs. Listed buildings are exempt from requiring an EPC due to restrictions on alterations that could affect their original features.
Ensuring your property has a valid EPC is a legal requirement since 2008, valid for ten years. Failure to obtain one when selling or renting out a property can result in fines of up to £5,000, with proposals to increase this to £30,000 from 2025. You can check the government's EPC register to verify if your property already has a valid certificate.
To obtain an EPC, you can either engage your estate agent or arrange an assessment independently with local Energy Assessors. The cost typically ranges between £60 and £120, depending on factors like property size, location, and type. During the assessment, an accredited domestic energy assessor evaluates various factors such as property size, insulation, heating system, window glazing, and lighting to determine energy efficiency.
If you believe there are errors in your EPC or disagree with your rating, you can contact the energy assessor who conducted the assessment. If unsatisfied with their response, you have the option to appeal to the accreditation scheme overseeing the assessor. While obtaining a new EPC after implementing energy efficiency improvements is not mandatory, it can be beneficial for tracking improvements' impact on your property's rating. For consistency, consider using the same assessor or firm for both pre- and post-improvement assessments.