Featured Properties

Energy Performance Certificates

What they are

Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) give information on how to make your home more energy efficient and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. All homes bought, sold or rented now require an EPC.

What they tell you

EPCs contain:

• Information on your home’s energy use and carbon dioxide emissions
• A recommendation report with suggestions to reduce energy use and carbon dioxide emissions

Energy use and carbon dioxide emissions

EPCs carry ratings that compare the current energy efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions with potential figures that your home could achieve. Potential figures are calculated by estimating what the energy efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions would be if energy saving measures were put in place.

The recommendation report

EPCs also provide a detailed recommendation report showing what you could do to help reduce the amount of energy you use and your carbon dioxide emissions. The report lists:

• Suggested improvements, like fitting loft insulation
• Possible cost savings per year, if the improvements are made
• How the recommendations would change the energy and carbon emission rating of the property

You don’t have to act on the recommendations in the recommendation report. However, if you decide to do so, it could make your property more attractive for sale or rent by making it more energy efficient.

The certificate also contains:

• Detailed estimates of potential energy use, carbon dioxide emissions and fuel costs
• Details of the person who carried out the EPC assessment
• Who to contact if you want to make a complaint

What an EPC looks like

Information about energy efficiency and carbon emission is summarised in two charts that show the energy and carbon dioxide emissions ratings. The charts look similar to those supplied on electrical appliances, like fridges and washing machines.

How to get an EPC

You should receive an EPC when you are thinking about buying or renting a home. You’ll need to provide one if you are selling or letting your home.

Which buildings need an EPC

An EPC is required when a building is constructed, rented or sold. A building will need an EPC if it has a roof and walls and uses energy to “condition an indoor climate”. This means it has heating, air conditioning or mechanical ventilation. For example, a garden shed would not need an EPC if it does not have any heating.

The building can either be a whole building or part of a building that has been designed or altered to be used separately. If a building is made up of separate units, each with its own heating system, each unit will need an EPC.

Which buildings don’t need an EPC

The following buildings don’t need an EPC:

• Places of worship
• Temporary buildings that will be used for less than two years
• Standalone buildings with total useful floor area of less than 50 metres squared, that are not used to provide living accommodation for a single household
• Industrial sites, workshops and non-residential agricultural buildings that do not use a lot of energy

EPCs for business premises

Owners of all commercial buildings also have to provide an EPC when they sell or let commercial premises.

For further information, please go to www.direct.gov.uk

Order an EPC using our Energy Performance Certificate Order Form