Looking for Sell Your Home? don’t forget the EPC!

Although having been around for a while, EPC are not fully understood by all home owners, meaning when they come to selling their home, they may not be aware of their obligations as regards EPCs.

This concise little post aims to change that by giving you the basics about EPCs, without all the jargon!

Energy Performance Certificates

EPC actually stands for Energy Performance Certificate. EP Certificates are intended to give the energy rating of the property, oftentimes in a graph form, and covers things like how well insulated and generally how energy efficient the house is. A grade houses are the most energy efficient, and G is the least. The average for the UK is currently a D grade, which just goes to show there is room for improvement.

This potential for improvement is also covered by the EPC, with suggestions given as to possible changes to your home, often in the form of:

• Loft Insulation
• Double Glazing
• Information about Carbon emissions

The details of possible changes given are just recommendations however, and are not compulsory. They do however help prospective buyers to realise the costs involved with improving the efficiency of the house.

This is now a mandatory section of the Home Information Pack (HIP) that in turn has to be provided by all UK house sellers by law. Moreover, if a landlord wishes to let a property, they will have to provide an EPC to the ‘tenants to be’ after 1st October 2008.

EPCs are not presently required for homes that are not self contained, meaning that an Energy Performance Certificate is not needed if you are merely letting a room or section of a house.

Generally, an Energy Performance Certificate is valid for 10 years.

Whilst not overly complicated, it is recommended to have a specialist handle you’re EPC, to avoid mistakes and ensure all the legal requirements are met in full.