Everyone in the UK who advertises a residential property for sale or rent is required by law to commission an EPC. You can be fined if you don’t have an EPC when you need one. There are a few exceptions, but the vast majority of them concern businesses or places of worship. For example, your property may be exempt if it is mixed-use, such as a home that also serves as a shop, is less than 50 square metres in size, or is a holiday home that is used for less than four months of the year.
What is an EPC?
EPC is an abbreviation for Energy Performance Certificate. An EPC ranks a property’s energy efficiency from A to G and from 1-100. It contains tips on how to save energy and money, as well as the rating the property could receive if all of the recommendations in it were followed. It also gives the property’s environmental CO2 impact rating. This is the amount of CO2 emitted during the production of hot water and heating for the property.
How is an EPC created?
You need to employ a certified assessor to do the report. The EPC assessor will come to your home and gather information about your boiler, hot water tank, radiators, insulation, and windows. They then enter this data into software that analyses your property’s energy efficiency and environmental impact.
How can you improve your EPC?
A list of measures that can improve your property’s EPC rating will be included in the report. These are not generic suggestions, but will be tailored to your property. You may decide not to implement any of the advice since you will not personally benefit from it. However, a low EPC rating may deter potential purchasers who worry about the cost of heating the property.
Installing a new boiler is the single most effective way to improve your property’s rating. Other ways to increase your home’s energy efficiency include adding more loft insulation, installing solar panels on your roof, sealing unused chimneys to reduce draughts, and adding wall insulation. When having insulation installed, it is usually a good idea to save any documentation because EPC assessors only conduct a visual check of your property and will not be able to notice any in tucked away or inaccessible spots.
It might seem like a hassle to arrange for an EPC to be carried out, but it can really help you attract buyers to your property. A home with a good EPC rating will appeal to a wide range of buyers because many people are concerned about their personal carbon footprint and rising energy costs, so if your property is energy-efficient, it is undoubtedly a selling feature. Even if your property receives a low rating, it is not the end of the world because the EPC highlights the potential rating that your property could get if the recommendations contained within it were implemented. That section will be especially appealing to anyone looking for a fixer-upper.
If you have any questions about EPCs or would like to learn more about how we can help you through the entire home selling process in Hampstead , please contact us on 020 7759 2199 or send us an email to enquiries@vitaproperties.uk.
