Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are often a topic of conversation in the property industry, with their accuracy and consistency often being scrutinised.
An updated methodology for EPCs has now been introduced to help improve their accuracy and ensure they enable homeowners and landlords to make more informed decisions.
What’s important to know from this implementation is that:
- It will take energy assessors a little longer to carry out a survey
- The cost of an EPC may be higher than you’ve paid in the past
The time shouldn’t be much more than before, around 10 minutes depending on the property size, but with other business costs rising, it is worth checking how much you budget for an EPC and making sure it’s correct.
Top five changes to EPC checks
There are five changes to the checks that an EPC assessor will make:-
- Information about where heat is lost from the property e.g. chimneys and flues and fans
- More detail about roof insulation and better assumptions on insulation
- Wall area measurements revised to account for windows and insulation and revisions for heat loss, updated information for solid brick and stone
- Window measurements and information revised to improve accuracy, shutters introduced, including whether they are insulated/uninsulated
- Improved insulation and ventilation considerations for floors
A final change is that new technologies like batteries and PV (photovoltaic) Diverts which are sola panels that can heat water are now included.
The new measurements aren’t expected to drastically change energy ratings, but they are likely to help with better recommendations, especially on how much people can save by making their properties more energy efficient.
Andrew Parkin
Chair - Property Energy Professionals Association
Remember if you are letting or selling a property you will need an EPC and if we are not managing your property, you must ensure the tenant has a copy of the EPC. Once you have carried out an EPC, it’s valid for 10 years.
In the future, it’s likely that EPCs will need to be rated C and above, which is higher than the average ‘D’ rating in England for a property, so it’s important to start finding out now how you can improve your energy efficiency rating, or check if your property is exempt.
Find out how we can help you keep your investment in-line with regulation with a lettings review.
The Your Move Content Marketing Team
