SAP EPCs
SAP EPCs contain information potential buyers can access about the energy performance of a particular house or other building. This enables them to make an informed decision about whether or not to purchase or occupy a particular building.
The assessment conducted before issuing an EPC is performed by a qualified energy assessor. In the case of older homes an accredited professional visits a given property and performs a rigorous examination of components such as wall and floor insulation, loft insulation, the state of cavity walls, the condition of the hot water tank, boiler and radiators and other items including heating controls, windows and more. In the case of new dwellings, no site visit is required.
The law is clear that any landlord or letting agent must have a valid EPC on hand for any property - new or existing - they advertise for sale or rent. Anyone thinking they might simply ignore the EPC requirement should be advised that the penalty for failing to provide one to a potential buyer or renter is significant with the minimum fine being £500 and the maximum being £5,000, depending on the value of the building in question.
SAP stands for “Standard Assessment Procedure”. It is a set of calculations used to produce the Energy Performance Certificate. The SAP calculations are used to determine the overall energy performance of a given building which is then expressed in the EPC rating.
Only new dwellings are required to have an SAP assessment performed on them. That goes for buildings that have been converted to dwellings as well, such as old warehouses or schools that have been converted to flats or condominiums.
Unlike EPC assessments of old buildings which are done in person, an SAP assessment does not require a site visit. Instead, the assessor uses architectural plans, construction information, and plans related to heating and ventilation (among other things) to determine the energy performance of the building. They then rate the building on a scale from A to G, with A being the best and G being the worst.
Because most of the housing stock in the UK is more than 50 years old the average home earns a D rating. That said, new homes - the ones that require the SAP assessment - are created with energy efficiency in mind and are going to earn a much better rating, typically a B, or even an A.
What SAP EPCs Reveals
The SAP EPC rating is designed to give potential buyers or renters an idea about how much they will need to spend heating and cooling a particular dwelling. As we said, however, SAPs are only conducted on new, renovated or repurposed properties, which are typically highly energy efficient. So you have a reasonable expectation that the SAP rating will be good to excellent.
If you are trying to sell an older building you will need an in-person inspection of the property in order to obtain an EPC certificate. Prior to scheduling an assessor's visit, there are things you can do that will help improve the EPC rating your home receives. This is important because those improvements will in all likelihood help you sell the property easier and for more money than if you did nothing. Such improvements include but are not limited to:
Some of these upgrades are quite affordable while others, such as replacing your windows or boiler, are going to require a fairly substantial investment.
EPCs for Existing Dwellings
Above we mentioned that only new dwellings, or old buildings newly converted to dwellings, need an SAP assessment and that such an assessment can be performed remotely. Existing dwellings, on the other hand, will need to be visited in person by a Domestic Energy Assessor in order to receive an EPC certificate prior to sale or rent.
In the case of an older building a simpler version of the assessment programme called an RDSAP (reduced data SAP) will be used to create the EPC. If an older dwelling does not give up its secrets easily the RDSAP can utilise established age-related values to help the assessor do his or her job.
The bottom line is that the SAP is used to remotely produce an EPC for a new or newly renovated or repurposed dwelling. While an RDSAP is used in conjunction with a site visit to create an EPC for an older dwelling.
If you own a new home, a large home that has been subdivided into smaller homes, or a home carved out of a former warehouse, school or some other building obtain the full SAP EPC certificate you need from Energy Performance Certificates UK.
Remember that the SAP assessment is normally done remotely, meaning we will need relevant drawings, schematics and other materials from you in order to conduct the SAP assessment and produce an EPC for your new build or conversion. Those materials typically include:
If you are not sure that you possess the necessary documentation give our office a call on 0203 397 8220 and talk to a member of our team. They will help you determine if you have the necessary materials and if you don’t, where and how you can obtain them.
How long is an EPC good for?
The EPC is valid for 10 years from the date of issue. If at any point during that 10 years you decide to sell your home you can use the EPC and be in compliance with the law. If, after the certificate has expired you want to sell your home you will need to obtain a new EPC.
I lost my EPC. Can I get a copy?
You can. Obtaining a copy is a relatively straightforward proposition. Simply go to the EPC Register website and click on the “Start Now” button, then follow the prompts. It only takes a minute or two.
Is it mandatory to have an EPC if I am selling a house or other dwelling?
Yes, obtaining an EPC prior to sale is a legal requirement. If you attempt to sell your dwelling without first obtaining an EPC you will be slapped with a fine that may be as high as £5,000 and be forced to obtain an EPC anyway before the sale will be allowed to go through.
Who can conduct an SAP on my new build or conversion?
The pros at Energy Performance Certificate UK are fully capable of conducting the SAP assessment and issuing you an EPC. We have years of experience and a long list of satisfied customers.
I heard EPCs recently changed, is that true?
Yes, EPCs have changed. Until recently the maintenance of EPC records was handled by a company called Landmark. This is no longer the case. The government has decided to keep the entire EPC process in house, including the maintenance of the SAP EPC Register.
Will this change affect how I go about obtaining an SAP EPC?
No. You can still obtain SAP EPCs or standard RDSAP EPCs by contacting the professionals at Energy Performance Certificates UK. What’s different is that your EPC will now be stored on the government’s EPC Register website, rather than provided to you as a printable PDF file.
Will recent changes affect how my property is assessed?
No, the SAP EPC Domestic Energy Assessor from Energy Performance Certificates UK will be looking at the same things and applying the same calculations as before when they do the SAP or RDSAP assessments.
