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Getting an Energy Performance Certificate
Find out where to get an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), when you should receive one and when you should provide one. Also, find out about energy assessors who produce EPCs, and what to do if you are not happy with their work.
Where to get an EPC
An EPC is required by law when a building is constructed, sold or put up for rent. If you are a landlord or homeowner and need to provide an EPC, you'll need to contact an accredited domestic energy assessor. They will carry out the assessment and produce the certificate.
The accreditation scheme makes sure that domestic energy assessors have the necessary skills and are able to carry out the survey to agreed standards. Domestic energy assessors may be employed by a company (like an estate agent or energy company) or be self-employed. Always check that your domestic energy assessor belongs to an accreditation scheme. You can find a full list of accreditation schemes by following the link below.
Finding an accredited energy assessor
You can use the ‘Energy Performance Certificate and Home Condition Report Register’ website to search for an accredited domestic energy assessor. This website is run by Landmark, on behalf of the government. You can also find accredited domestic energy assessors by searching online or by looking in the phone book.
How long is your EPC valid for?
EPCs are valid for ten years, except if they are part of a Home Information Pack (HIP). If it is part of a HIP, an EPC must be less than three years old when the building is first put on the market. See 'Home Information Packs' for more information about getting a HIP.
What an EPC costs
The price of an EPC is set by the accredited organisations that issue them. When you commission a Home Information Pack, the overall cost should include the cost of an EPC. If you apply for an EPC on its own, it should cost approximately £100 (for an average-sized house).
How long it takes to get an EPC
Getting an EPC for an average-sized home is likely to take the same time as a house valuation report. The exact time will vary from property to property.
What to do if you are not happy with your EPC
If you are not happy, you should discuss your complaint with the domestic energy assessor who carried out your assessment. All domestic energy assessors must have a complaints process in place, so they should be able to provide you with a copy of their complaints procedure. If the complaint isn't resolved, you can take it to their accreditation scheme.
When you'll be given an EPC
By law you should receive an EPC in the following cases:
Buying a home
All sellers of homes need to ensure that they provide a Home Information Pack, which includes an EPC, free of charge to potential buyers.
Buying a newly built property
Buyers of newly built properties should receive an EPC, free of charge.
Renting a property
If you are interested in renting a property, the landlord must make an EPC available to you free of charge. However, you don’t need an EPC when you are thinking of just renting a room with shared facilities rather than renting the whole property.
If you are not in one of the above categories
Even if you don’t fall into the above categories, you can still apply for and receive an EPC from an energy assessor. This may be because you want to know how energy efficient your home is, and make improvements suggested by the recommendation report. To find out more about what an EPC contains, follow the link below.
What happens if you are not given an EPC
If you are not given an EPC when you are entitled to it, you should contact the trading standards department of your local council. Trading standards officers have the power to issue a fixed penalty notice of £200 for domestic properties where an EPC is not provided.
If you are buying a newly built home and an EPC hasn’t been provided, you should contact the building control department of your local council.
Case study: what domestic energy assessors do
Artemis Stylianou, 27, from London, has been working as a domestic energy assessor since 2007. Artemis carries out assessments on properties for sale or rent and collects details of their dimensions, construction, heating and hot water. Using accredited software, she then provides the owner with an EPC, which contains information on the energy efficiency of the property.
Artemis says: “I’ve always been interested in the environment and the impact our homes and buildings have on carbon emissions and I think EPCs can make a real contribution to tackling climate change.
“During my time as an assessor, I’ve noticed an increasing awareness of EPCs. With rising fuel bills, it’s even more important for people to understand how making improvements to the energy efficiency of their home can save them money.
“I also believe people are becoming more and more interested and open to ideas on how they can improve the carbon footprint of their homes.”
When Artemis talks people through their EPC rating and the suggested recommendations, she relates them to their day-to-day lives. The focus is on the savings that can be made on their monthly bills: “I help them understand how making small changes to their home can make a big difference – to their wallet and the environment.”
