Landlords have a vast range of responsibilities in order to keep their properties and tenants safe. One of these responsibilities is an EPC Certificate. Furthermore, it is a key part of any landlords’ obligations. The EPC is much more than just a legal requirement for landlords. It is also a way of measuring the quality of the property. What’s more, landlords can use it as a selling point for finding new tenants.
What is an EPC Certificate?
An EPC is a document that shows how energy efficient a specific property is. It provides a rating for the property between A to G, with A being very energy efficient and G being inefficient. It will outline the rough energy costs for the property. What’s more, it also provides some practical recommendations on what could be done to improve the energy performance rating. Every property in the country will have an EPC, and a certified assessor must produce them.
Is an EPC Certificate A Legal Requirement?
According to UK law, every time a property is built, sold or rented, an EPC must be completed. There are a few exceptions to this law, such as temporary buildings or listed properties. Landlords must have a separate EPC for every self-contained property they own and rent out. Whenever a property is advertised for renting it must list the EPC rating. Every tenant must be provided with a copy of the EPC free of charge when they move into the property.
For rental properties in Scotland, the EPC must be displayed in the property at all times, although this is not the case in England.
If a landlord fails to provide an EPC when it is required, then it can result in a £200 fine per dwelling. Furthermore, under new energy efficiency laws, penalties for renting out an unfit property can be as high as £5,000.
How Do I Get An EPC?
A fully certified assessor can produce the certificate after they complete an evaluation on the property. A full list of approved assessors is available on the Department for Communities and Local Government website. An EPC can cost anywhere between £49 and £120 depending on the assessor chosen, so it is often worth shopping around to get a fair price.
As soon as an assessor issues the EPC, they automatically register the results onto a publicly available database. The EPC will be valid for ten years. To order either click here
What Are The Benefits Of An EPC?
Being able to demonstrate that a property has a high energy efficiency rating will be a desirable feature for many tenants. Tenants will be looking out for properties that aren’t going to very costly to run. Consequently, the EPC rating has a significant impact on this. An EPC will also have a recommendation report with it, which is valuable to landlords as it can provide information on how to reduce the running cost of the property.
