Producing New EPCs

An Energy Performance Certificate is a legal requirement for most homes and lasts for ten years. If you carry out improvements on your property which leads to better energy efficiency, it is always worth updating your EPC. It is important that the money you have invested is reflected in an improved EPC rating. If you do not update your EPC on completion of the work, it will simply remain as it did when you originally acquired the property. The recommendation report on an EPC provides recommendations on using the building more effectively, cost effective improvements and other more expensive improvements which could enhance the building’s energy performance. Homes are given an energy efficiency rating between A and G. The most efficient homes and properties are in band A, and properties band G are the least efficient. The greater the energy efficiency of your home, the lower your energy bills are likely to be. For reference, the EPC rating for the average UK home is D. New-build homes are typically given the highest EPC ratings. The recommendations provided on an EPC are cumulative meaning that they should be installed in the order they appear on the EPC to achieve the potential energy efficiency rating. Should you choose not to follow the order they appear in, the potential energy efficiency rating may change. Scotland’s EPC will also show how recommendations will impact the environment rating after improvement. A well-thought-out strategy appertaining to mees can offer leaps and bounds in improvements.

The Energy Performance Of Buildings Directive
The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) came into force on 1 April 2018 and set new energy efficiency regulations for private rented properties throughout the UK. It is designed to highlight low standards of energy efficiency in properties in a bid to get landlords to take measures to raise them. While energy efficiency measures in diverse sectors show potential to deliver health and well-being improvements, measures targeting buildings are often easier to verify. Energy efficiency retrofits in buildings (e.g. insulation retrofits and weatherisation programmes) create conditions that support improved occupant health and well-being, particularly among vulnerable groups. It is the legal responsibility of the landlord or property owner to obtain an EPC before marketing a property and must have a copy of the certificate ready to show potential tenants. Unless you fancy standing up in court, having an EPC is a very good idea. But beyond avoiding prison, it can also add value to your property, encourage your tenants to be more energy efficient, and help you qualify for renewable tariffs. The sale of an interest in a Commercial building must be treated as the same as the sale of the building itself and an EPC will be required for the assignment of a lease, where a leasehold interest is being passed on to another person. The sub-letting of a building would also require an EPC to be provided. Energy Performance Certificates were introduced in 2007 and these reports are valid for 10 years. It’s a legal requirement to have one before a property can be rented, sold or constructed. Formulating opinions on matters such as epc commercial property can be a time consuming process.

Getting an EPC has substantial social benefits. With the current focus on environmental issues and the expected 20% increase of gas and electricity bills by 2020 going green is the best option for all property owners. Creating an environmental profile for your property or business will improve your reputation and attract more potential buyers and tenants. Look at your EPC – this will tell you what rating your property is, from ‘A’ to ‘G’. The property needs to be rated ‘E’ or above to be considered appropriately habitable for letting. On the second page of your energy performance certificate, ‘recommended measures’ will be listed. These will show you what you need to do to improve your rating, how big the measures are, how expensive they are, and what kind of difference it will make. EPCs are straight forward documents that give an energy rating from G to A, with a numeric scale to provide a more precise figure. The scale is relatively self-explanatory, however, if you need help with understanding the scale, we are more than capable of talking through with you what is stated. In simple terms, G in the scale is a very poor rating and A is an excellent rating. In the UK, the average rating across all dwellings is a D (around 60)