An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is a report detailing the energy efficiency of a property.

It gives a property an energy efficiency rating from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient) and is valid for 10 years. Sellers and landlords are required to hold a valid EPC for a property before they sell or let it. It is also a requirement that estate agents and letting agents display the EPC when marketing the property.

An EPC contains information about a property’s energy use and typical energy costs, as well as recommendations on how to reduce energy use and reduce costs. It will include: Summary of the key elements in the property that have impact on its performance rating, such as windows, heating systems and controls, Suggested improvements, like fitting loft insulation, Possible cost savings per year, if the improvements were made, How the recommendations would change the energy and carbon emission rating of the property. Since October 2008, all homes sold or rented out require an EPC, and the energy ratings had to be displayed on any Property Particulars, however the regulations changed on 6th April 2012 to attach the front page of the EPC to any property particulars.

New regulations outline that all private sector Landlords must not grant a new tenancy of a property (including an extension or renewal) they let after 1 April 2018 and must not continue to let the property (on an existing tenancy) after 1 April 2020, where the EPC is below the minimum level of energy efficiency for private rented properties of band E.

A building will need an EPC if it has a roof and walls and has heating, air conditioning or mechanical ventilation. A garden shed, garage or old barn would not need an EPC if it does not use any energy to heat it up or cool it down. The following buildings are always exempt: Place of worship, Temporary building that will be used for less than two years, Standalone buildings with total useful floor area of less than 50 metres square that aren’t used to provide living accommodation for a single household.

An EPC is provided by a Domestic Energy Assessor, and you should be sure that they are an accredited provider. Richmond Holmes will assist you through all of this and we can organise an assessor. The assessor will visit your property and inspect key items such as loft insulation, domestic boilers, hot water tanks, radiators and windows.

There are certain steps you can take to make your home more efficient such as: - insulating your home because in an uninsulated home, a quarter of heat is lost through the roof. Loft insulation is effective for at least 40 years and could help you save up to £250 a year. Blocking unwanted gaps around places like windows and doors is a cheap and effective way of keeping cold air out of your home, and warm air in, and therefore keeping your heating bills down. This could save you up to 10% on your heating bill.

Replacing single glazing with double glazing helps to reduce the heat leaving your home through the windows, as well as reducing noise. It could help you save up to £175 on your annual heating bills. Lighting counts for around 7% of a typical household’s energy bill and reducing this is quick and easy. Look out for Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) and Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). And make sure your whole household is conscious of turning lights off when they leave a room, no matter for how long.