FAQ

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) shows a representation of the energy efficiency levels and CO2 emissions of a building. The table goes from A to G, A being very efficient and G being very inefficient.

An EPC certificate will outline energy saving measures, an estimate of fuel costs and provide recommendations for improving the EPC rating.

Current legislation states an EPC is valid for 10 years.

A domestic Energy Performance Certificate is required by law when a building is sold, rented out or being built. An EPC is also required for green deal. Some home owners choose to carry out an EPC to assist in determining the energy efficiency of their property. If  you are looking to sell your property an EPC will be required.
The current MEES (minimum energy efficiency standard)requirements mean that landlords with properties which require an EPC cannot start new tenancies in England and Wales with an EPC rating below an E. From April 2020, all existing tenancies which require an EPC will need to have a minimum E rating.
There are some buildings which are exempt from requiring an EPC These include:
 
1. Buildings used as places of worship or for religious activities
2. Temporary buildings
3. Buildings with low energy demand
4. Stand-alone buildings with a floor area of <50m2
5. Buildings that are due to be demolished (certain stipulations apply)
6. Buildings and monuments officially protected as part of a designated environment or because of their special architectural or historic merit
The actual onsite assessment can take anywhere between 30-60 minutes, however can sometimes take longer depending on the property. After this we aim to provide an Energy Performance Certificate within 24 hours of conducting a site inspection at your property. We will send a link to a government website so you can be assured of its authenticity.

During the visit, the energy assessor will need to access all the rooms, the boiler and the loft (if there is safe access). Please remember due to health & safety the assessor can only inspect the loft by entering the loft with head and shoulders only. They will have to take photographs of items, such as heaters and meters and may take photographs of any unusual features in the building. They may also take photos of any area that cannot be accessed or visually inspected (for example, a fully boarded loft). Care will be taken to ensure personal items are not present within the photos taken. If you have any documentation available for any recent works carried out such as insulation, solar panels etc please have this to hand.

There are currently various schemes available such as Green Deal Finance which allows you to pay for some of the cost of your improvements in instalments under a Green Deal Plan (note that this is a credit agreement, but with instalments being added to the electricity bill for the property). The availability of a Green Deal Plan will depend upon your financial circumstances. There is a limit to how much Green Deal Finance can be used, which is determined by how much energy the improvements are estimated to save for a ‘typical household’.

You may be able to obtain an ECO grant support towards repairs or replacements of heating systems and/or basic insulation measures, if you are in receipt of qualifying benefits or tax credits. To learn more about this scheme and the rules about eligibility, call the Energy Saving Advice Service on 0300 123 1234 for England and Wales.

This is something we can advise on and help implement so please ask.

We are proud to be a local  EPC company based in Leicester and serving all LE postcodes. We focus on providing a professional, quality and reliable service in our local area. Being local landlords ourselves and having  local knowledge means that we can better serve our customers.