When buying or selling your home there are several steps to the process that need to happen before legal completion can take place. One of these steps is for the seller to provide an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) to a potential buyer or to a potential tenant if the property is to be rented. It is the responsibility of a seller to ensure that there is a valid EPC available and easily accessible.

The EPC incudes information about a property’s energy use and cost, it also includes information to reduce energy use and save money by identifying ways that energy performance can be reduced. The EPC gives an energy efficiency rating from A to G, A being the most efficient and G the least efficient. EPCs are valid for a period of 10 years, after this the property need to be assessed again and a new certificate prepared by an accredited assessor.

An EPC can only be prepared by an energy assessor accredited to carry out the work and be part of the government approved scheme, this ensures the assessor has demonstrated their competence, keeps up to date with their skills and knowledge, and maintains professional indemnity cover.  The assessor will normally visit the property to gather certain information and undertake readings. This will include collecting information about the age of the property, the size and construction of the building. They will also look at the heating system, the insulation the property may benefit from and the lighting.

The EPC will often include ways to improve a building’s energy rating, however there is no statutory requirement to undertake any of the suggested improvement measures.

An EPC is needed when a property is a built, sold or rented. Some places, however do not need an EPC. These include (but are not limited to) places of worship, certain temporary buildings, industrial sites, workshops and non-residential agricultural buildings that do not use a lot of energy, and listed buildings.

The EPC will normally be provided when the property is marketed, but also by the solicitor acting in the sale of a property as part of the protocol procedures solicitors follow in each transaction.

You can find out if your property has a valid EPC, and the EPC rating for free by visiting the government website.

If you would like to discuss the above or have any queries, please contact our Property Department now who would be happy to help.