What is an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)?
EPCs tell buyers and sellers about the energy efficiency of a house using A to G ratings like those used to rate fridges and washing machines. EPCs are attached to the particulars, which estate agents give to potential buyers. EPCs also make recommendations for improvements to help cut fuel bills and carbon emissions.  The EPC is prepared by Domestic Energy Assessors or Home Inspectors, who are members of a Government approved scheme. The EPC is valid for 10 years.

The EPC regime affects all homes for sale, all rental homes where there is a new rental agreement, and all commercial buildings of any size. EPCs should be produced as soon as possible and must have been ordered prior to the commencement of marketing, with the onus to provide the EPC being with the sellers and not their agents.

Do all properties need an EPC?
All properties marketed for sale require an EPC graph that must be ordered prior to marketing and, once recieved, be displayed on the particulars.  If the property has had an EPC completed within the last 10 years, it will still be valid and may be re-used.  It is the responsibility of the vendor, not the Estate Agent, to procure an EPC from an accredited assessor, although we can arrange this for you if you so wish. Trading Standards officers are responsible for enforcing this requirement.

Rental Properties:
An EPC is required when a property is let to a new tenant. Providing the EPC is the responsibility of the Landlord, not the Estate Agent.

This applies to the whole of the building or part of a building where the part is designed to be used separately.  For residential purposes, “designed or altered for use separately” describes a unit that is self-contained, meaning that it does not share essential facilities such as a bathroom, shower room, w.c. or kitchen with any other unit, and that it has its own entrance either from outside or through common parts that are not through another dwelling. 

The EPC shows two things: 

• the energy efficiency rating (related running costs) and,
• the environmental impact rating (relating to the carbon monoxide emissions of the dwelling). 

Each rating is shown in a rating scale of A to G similar to those used for fridges and other electrical appliances.

Landlords must provide an EPC free of charge for prospective tenants at the earliest opportunity and must provide a copy of the EPC to the person who takes up the tenancy.  As a minimum, this should be when  prospective tenants are first given written information about a dwelling and before any rental contract is entered into. EPCs will be valid for 10 years and can be re-used as many times as required within that period.  It will not be necessary to commission a new EPC each time there is a change of tenant.

An EPC is not required for any property that was occupied prior to 1st October 2008 and that continues to be occupied after that date by the same tenant.  Landlords may commission EPCs for these dwellings if they wish.

EPCs are the responsibility of the landlord and must be produced by an accredited assessor. Fowlers will be happy to provide you with the details of an accredited assessor together with the costs for producing an EPC. Once an EPC is available, it should be forwarded to Fowlers Letting Department after which, prospective tenants may view the property.

In the event that the landlord fails to provide an EPC to a tenant or fails to show an EPC to an Enforcement Officer when asked, Trading Standards can issue a penalty notice with a penalty charge for a dwelling.  In addition to paying a penalty, the landlord will still have to provide an EPC to the person who has become the tenant.

If a landlord has an EPC for a property as, for example, part of a HIP, this EPC can be used for subsequent rental.

www.homeinformationpacks.gov.uk