EPC's for Existing Homes.
It's a legal requirement to have an EPC for your home before you sell it - and you need to have at least ordered one before putting your property on the market. This can be arranged directly with an EPC provider.
In the case of rental properties, landlords must also have an EPC available for prospective tenants to view.
What is an EPC?
An EPC is a certificate showing how energy-efficient your property is. Your property will be given a grade of between A and G, with A being the highest - ie most energy-efficient - rating.
If you have a brand-new home, it’s likely to have a high rating, while older homes tend to have lower ratings of around D or E.
The theory is that the better the rating your property gets, the more attractive it should be to a tenant or buyer, as it indicates lower energy bills.
Always ask to see the EPC of a property you're buying, as lenders will factor the running costs of the house into their affordability checks.
How to improve your energy efficiency rating.
The EPC will list ways to improve your rating, such as installing double glazing or loft, floor or wall insulation, and give indicative costs.
The certificate will include:
· potential costs of heating, lighting and hot water after
improvements are made;
· total potential savings, and the energy performance rating you might receive after making improvements to your home;
· recommended actions to take (such as increasing loft insulation and draught proofing);
· the potential cost of undertaking these improvements, and the typical saving over a three-year period.