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We hope you will find this FAQ informative. Please select one of the following topics relating to Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs);
Can I trust the information in this FAQ?
Full HIP is an ethical, professional company. All information provided in this FAQ has been fully researched and is believed to be factual and without prejudice. If you disagree please contact us by e-mail or fill in our contact enquiry form.
I you have a question which you feel should have been included in this FAQ please let us know. We will give you an answer and consider it for inclusion in the list.
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What is an Energy Performance Certificate?
Please look at the information in the About EPCs section of this website.
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Do I need to have an EPC?
If you are selling or renting a residential property then you will need to have an EPC. When selling you must have either a valid EPC or have ordered an EPC to be produced before you or an Agent can market a property. The EPC must be available within 28 days of the house first going on the market. When renting a property you must have a valid EPC available to show prospective tenants.
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What happens if I don’t get an EPC?
There is an initial fixed penalty of £200. Enforcement of these requirements is the responsibility of Trading Standards Officers. However if a property which is sold or rented continues to be without a valid EPC further penalties may be imposed.
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Who is responsible for providing the EPC?
The duty to provide an EPC falls on either the seller, in the case of a building being sold, or the landlord, in the case of a building being rented. In the case of new buildings the duty to provide an EPC falls on the builder.
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How much does an EPC cost?
Unfortunately like everything else in life you get what you pay for. The cost of an EPC depends on where you get it from and the size of your property. As a guide expect to pay upwards of £75 (including VAT). Because the sale of EPCs is unregulated it will always be possible to find EPC providers charging a lot less than this. One way of achieving this is to pay Domestic Energy Assessors a very low amount for their services. You need to make up your own mind what the implications of this are and if this is important to you. Full HIP believes in paying a fair rate to HIs & DEAs for your Energy Assessment as we believe this is the best way to maintain accuracy and quality.
Please also read the following two FAQ; ‘What are the possible consequences of an incorrect EPC?’ and ‘What’s involved in providing an EPC? (why not the cheapest)’
What are the possible consequences of an incorrect EPC?
- If selling then an incorrect assessment may result in a report showing a higher energy cost and a lower potential/actual energy rating. To put it bluntly in the current ‘Buyers Market’ prospective purchasers may be put off buying your house especially if the rating for similar properties is significantly better.
- If renting you should provide the EPC in the pack you provide the prospective tenant. Prospective tenants may be put off renting your property if the Energy costs appear to be greater than that of similar properties
What’s involved in providing an EPC (and why not the cheapest)?
Here’s what’s involved for each Certificate;
- Arranging for a fully qualified Assessor to be at the property at a specific time
- The assessor may have to travel many miles and may take up to an hour or more each way to reach the property (especially in London or less populated areas)
- The Assessor needs to measure each room, check the construction, presence of extensions which may have a different construction, windows, heating and extent of insulation etc.
- A lodgement fee is paid to the company who runs the EPC database for the Government
- All the data collected during the assessment is entered into the database
- Finally a Certificate and Report is produced
All the above can take many hours, perhaps half a day in equivalent time. The Assessment must be carried out by qualified Domestic Energy Assessors or Home Inspectors. Think about other tradesmen who might come to your home such as plumbers and electricians and how much they might charge for similar hours. You will come across companies saying they can do all the above for as low as £20. The DEA qualification is a ‘level 3’ qualification requiring many hours of study, and exam and a portfolio to qualify (the Home Inspector is a higher ‘level 4’ qualification). I’ll leave it up to you to draw your own conclusions as to how some companies and Assessors feel they can charge such low prices.
Estate Agents may be the most expensive source for your EPC. The reason is that the Agent may receive a Commission for each EPC.
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What happens after I place my order for an EPC?
- You will be sent an order acknowledgement which will provide confirmation that you have ordered an EPC, confirm the cost and a latest date by which you are expected to receive your Certificate.
- A local Energy Assessor or Home Inspector will be assigned to carry out the Assessment taking account of the type and age of your property.
- You will be contacted to arrange a convenient time for the Energy Assessment of your property (note many of our Assessors work in the evening till dusk and at weekends to fit in with your availability.
- Once the appointment is confirmed you will be sent a payment invoice. You have until the Certificate is available to make payment (note it is a legal requirement that you pay for your Certificate prior to receiving it)
- Your Certificate & Report will be sent to you by e-mail when available (normally within 72 hrs of the Assessment visit). We understand that not everyone is comfortable with computers & e-mail. If requested we can provide a full or partial postal service where a printed copy and/or electronic copy on CD can be provided at no extra cost. Very few other Providers are happy to do thus.
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When do I pay for my EPC?
Unlike most EPC providers there is no upfront payment required. Once the Assessment appointment is confirmed you will be sent a payment invoice. You have until the Certificate is available to make payment (note it is a legal requirement that you pay for your Certificate prior to receiving it)
My house is Grade II Listed and/or has a Thatched roof. How does this affect the HIP?
It has no affect on the requirement for an EPC. You still need to arrange an EPC when you start selling the house. However an Assessor with local knowledge and familiar with the construction type is a definite advantage. For example it may be appropriate to ensure that the higher qualified Home Inspector carries out the Assessment. Full HIP will ensure that the Assessor has the appropriate knowledge for the house being inspected.
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What options do I have regarding where I can get an EPC from?
An Accredited Qualified Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA) or Home Inspector (HI) must carry out the Assessment but anyone can arrange to supply you with an EPC? The 3 main options are
- EPC Provider such as Full HIP. Ensure that your Provider belongs to a Trade Association. Full HIP is a member of the Independent Pack Providers Association which covers the production of EPCs and provides an independent arbitration service. (which until HIPs were suspended was included as part of a Home Information Pack(HIP))
- Estate Agent. Obtaining your EPC through an Estate Agent is probably not the best option. Apart from the fact that the you will probably pay a higher price (with the Agent taking a commission on each EPC) it is not their expertise. Given the option many Estate Agents would rather they didn’t exist at all and looks upon them as a necessary evil. You have no control or guarantees regarding who actually provides this important Certificate. With Full HIP, providing EPCs is our main business trading on quality of service and recommendations thus you can be sure of accuracy and a first class service.
- Domestic Energy Assessor or Home Inspector. It is sometimes possible to obtain your Certificate direct from an Assessor. This option is best exercised if they have been recommended by someone to you.
Whatever you do DO NOT CHOOSE THE CHEAPEST source. For the reason why not see or FAQ topics ‘What are the possible consequences of an incorrect EPC?’ and ‘What’s involved in providing an EPC (and why to to use the cheapest)?’
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How long is an EPC valid (and why you might want to get another one earlier)?
Legally an EPC is valid 10 years BUT and it’s a very big BUT. The reason that and EPC is required before selling your property is so that anybody interested in purchasing your property can look at the likely energy costs and assess the money they may have to spend to improve the Energy Efficiency i.e. reduce their energy bill.
Thus if you have made changes which may have significantly improved the energy efficiency of your home since the Certificate was produced it you would be well advised to obtain an up to date certificate prior to selling your property.
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Do you need to know the Market Sale price of my house?
Definitely not. None of our forms ask for this information. If you are asked for this information by a EPC Provider you need to consider why?
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How can I get the EPC for a house I am interested in buying?
As soon as the EPC is obtained the energy rating or the EPC must be included with any written particulars and must be available within 28 days of when the property is first put up for sale (first point of marketing). If you are not supplied with the EPC you should ask the agent and/or seller who must supply you with a copy as soon as is reasonable.
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How much time is required for the Energy Assessment visit?
The actual amount of time taken to carry out an Energy Assessment is dependent on the condition and size of the property. Typical duration’s for a 3 or 4 bedroom house would be about 3/4 hr. See also related FAQ topic What’s involved in providing an EPC (and why not to use the cheapest)?
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Can a home owner compile their own EPC?
No. An EPC must generated by an accredited Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA) or Home Inspector (HI).
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My home is leasehold. Do I need a HIP?
Yes, unless the lease has less than 21 years to run
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Can a house fail an EPC Assessment?
No. An EPC Assessment is a measurement of the current energy efficiency and effect on the environment of a residential property. The house will therefor not pass or fail.
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Do I have to be there while the EPC is being carried out?
If you are a seller, it is not a legal requirement that you must be present however it is recommended that you are present if possible. In addition to security and heath & safety issues the Inspector will ask you for some information. Obviously there are many situations where the property is already vacant. In this situation the Assessor will be happy to pick up and deliver the keys back to your appointed key holder.
If you are an agent then we will always request that the seller or another ‘responsible person’ is present. When this is not possible special arrangements can be made.
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