An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is mandatory for any property owner who plans to rent, sell or build a new residential or commercial structure in the UK. The EPC programme was designed to compel property owners to bring their buildings into line with the government's long-term goal of making the UK carbon neutral. If you never had to deal with an EPC before you may have questions about the Energy Performance Certificate cost. In this brief guide, we will address that question.
The cost of the Energy Performance Certificate reflects that cost of having a qualified Domestic Energy Assessor perform the EPC inspection. The cost of the certificate itself is also factored in but that cost is typically minimal.
When they arrive at a property the assessor sets to work carrying out a series of checks to determine where energy is being wasted and what can be done to remedy the situation. For example, they may make note of old-fashioned single-glazed windows and recommend replacing them with double or triple-glazed windows. Or they may recommend replacing an old boiler with a new, energy efficient one.
A typical home or rental property inspection includes:
The inspection typically takes anywhere from 45 minutes to 1 hour to complete. Within 2 business days of completing the inspection, the assessor will provide the residential or commercial building owner with an EPC that indicates the overall score and rating, with an A rating being the best and a G rating being the worst. They will also indicate what steps could be taken to improve the building's EPC rating and how much the owner could save by implementing the various recommendations.
There are no other costs associated directly with the EPC assessment.
However, should the Domestic Energy Assessor assign an “F” or “G” rating to a privately owned rental the owner will need to bring the home up to an “E” rating before they can accept new tenants, and the process of upgrading various components of the residence will likely cost money.
Also, a commercial building must have at least a “C” rating. So if it received anything less than that from the assessor the owner will need to spend money on upgrades before they can rent the building out.
The Energy Performance Certificate cost will vary depending on the type of property, the size of the building and, in the case of private homes, how many bedrooms it has. The cost may be as little as £35 or as much as £120 (including VAT). Since the government has not fixed EPC prices, assessors are free to set their own, which means you should shop around to make sure you get a good price.
When shopping for a Domestic Energy Assessor make sure you consider their experience and reputation. You do not want someone with little or no experience conducting the EPC assessment. Nor should you trust estate agents to do it for you as they may overlook things that wind up coming back to haunt you.
The cost of an EPC does not have to be prohibitive. Our team have conducted thousands of EPC assessments for all types of clients. We have the practical and technical know-how needed to get the job done in a timely and cost-effective manner. We are also big believers in transparency so you will never see unexplained or unexpected charges on an assessment bill from EPC.
To schedule an appointment with one of our experienced Domestic Energy Assessors call us on 0203 397 8220, or write to us at hello@energyperformancecertificates.co.uk.
