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Domestic EPCs

Key Points

What do you need to know about Domestic EPCs?

An EPC is valid for 10 years and can be reused as many times as required within that period.

The regulations require an EPC to be commissioned, if there is no valid EPC for that building, before a building is put on the market.

Before marketing a building for sale or rent a person acting on behalf of the seller or landlord (for example, the estate or letting agent) must be satisfied that an EPC has been commissioned for that building.

An EPC must be produced by an accredited energy assessor who is a member of a government approved accreditation scheme.

All advertisements in the commercial media must clearly show the energy rating of the building (where this is available).

The regulations require an EPC to be given free of charge to the person who becomes the buyer or tenant of the building.

An EPC shows the energy efficiency rating on an A–G rating scale for a building

The EPC includes recommendations on how to improve energy efficiency.

The EPC may also include information showing which of the recommendations would be eligible for finance under the Green Deal scheme, if they were carried out

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Bookings can be made online or if you prefer to phone, call us Mon-Fri 9 am – 6pm, where a friendly and helpful member of staff will be happy to assist you.

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Why an EPC is required?

An EPC is intended to provide prospective buyers and tenants of a building with correct information about the energy performance of the building and practical advice on improving such performance. An EPC provides an energy efficiency rating (related to running costs) for a building based on the performance potential of the building itself (the fabric) and its services (such as heating, insulation ventilation and fuels used).

Not all buildings are used in the same way, so the energy rating uses ‘standard occupancy’ assumptions which may be different from the way the building is used. An EPC includes recommendations on how the energy performance of the building can be improved (to reduce running costs) together with an indication of the payback period. There is no statutory requirement to carry out any of the recommended energy efficiency measures stated.

Which buildings require EPCs?

Any reference to a building includes a reference to a building unit in that building, except where otherwise stated. Existing buildings need an EPC when they are to be sold or rented out. An EPC is valid for 10 years or until a newer EPC is produced for the same building no matter how many times the property is sold or rented out during that period.

Existing occupiers and tenants will not require an EPC unless they sell, assign or sublet their interest in a building. A building offered for sale or rent, must include the energy performance indicator of the building as shown on the EPC, for example C, in any advertisements in the commercial media 1 . There is no requirement to display the full EPC.

Make a Booking

Bookings can be made online or if you prefer to phone, call us Mon-Fri 9 am – 6pm, where a friendly and helpful member of staff will be happy to assist you.

Get a Quote