Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
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The inspection will:
Show if any of the electrical circuits or equipment are overloaded
Reveal poor electrical work
Discover potential safety risks such as electrical shocks
Establish the adequacy of earthing or bonding
Check the serviceability of equipment
Determine the extent of any wear and tear and damage
What is an EPC?
• A report providing an A-G rating (A being ‘Very Efficient’ and G being ‘Not Very Efficient’) of the overall energy efficiency rating of a property via details such as.
– Size of the living space
– Construction type of the property (e.g., timber, brick etc.)
– Insulation
– Lighting
– Heating system and controls
• The reports are created to provide information on the typical energy usage and costs of a property and gives recommendations for reducing such usage and increasing efficiency.
• The report must be carried out by a qualified and accredited Domestic Energy Assessor and takes between 20-60 minutes to complete.
• Since 1st October 2008, a report has been required for the advertising of both sales and lettings properties (there is a grace period of 7 days that a property may be advertised, provided a report is ordered and completed with this time scale).
• Regulations were introduced 1st April 2018 requiring all rental properties with new or renewed tenancies to have a minimum ‘E’ rating – this same rule applies for existing tenancies from 1st April 2020
• An EPC report is valid for 10 years.
Why is it so important?
• This is a mandatory requirement of a landlord, and therefore the managing agent’s duty to ensure the Landlord remains compliant.
• Failure to meet the minimum energy efficiency grade could result in up to £5,000 fines.
• A Landlord is unable to serve a Section 21 (Form 6A) notice without a valid EPC being served prior to the start of the tenancy. Although not essential, the EPC is renewed throughout a tenancy, for the purposes of serving a Section 21 (Form 6A), it is considered best practice.
What needs to be done?
• Ensure your property has a valid EPC from 1st April 2020, with a rating of E or above to remain compliant.
• Renew the EPC report every 10 years, in line with legislation.
• Ensure the report is readily available to any prospective Tenants
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