If you are looking to sell or rent your house, you may have been advised by your Estate Agent that you need an EPC Certificate. So, what is an EPC Certificate and how much does an EPC Certificate cost?
Let’s take a look.
What Is An EPC Certificate?
An EPC Certificate stands for Energy Performance Certificate.
You must obtain an EPC before you rent or sell your property.
The certificate tells a potential buyer or tenant:
- Details about the property’s energy usage and typical costs for gas and electricity and
- Includes recommendations on how to reduce energy use and save money in the property.
Your property will be rated overall from A to G, with A being the most energy efficient possible and G being the worst or most expensive. It is valid for 10 years, although if you carry out any improvements to your property it is worth obtaining a new one as it will make it more desirable to any prospective buyer or tenant.
Now you know what it is, how do you acquire an EPC Certificate?
How To Get An EPC Certificate?
To obtain one you must instruct an accredited domestic energy assessor, who will visit your property, carry out an inspection of your property (insulation and energy usage) and issue you with the certificate.
Often they are carried out by surveyors, or by someone who has trained to pass the accreditation to carry out EPC Certificates.
How Long Does An EPC Certificate Last?
As stated above, it is valid for 10 years.
Remember, though, if you make any improvements to the energy efficiency of your home or property, you must obtain a new certificate as it will generally improve your overall score, which makes your property more attractive to potential letters or buyers.
How Much Does An EPC Cost?
The cost of the certificate varies depending on the type of property (detached more expensive to assess) and the number of bedrooms (the more bedrooms, the more expensive).
You can expect to pay from £35 to £120 overall, with the average cost being in the region of £60 to £85.
How Quickly Can You Get An EPC Certificate?
You can obtain an EPC certificate as quickly as one day, although usually it will take a few days to book an accredited assessor and for them to attend your property, carry out their inspections and prepare the certificate.
Obtaining An EPC Certificate Near Me
To obtain an EPC Certificate near to your property address, there are two ways to do this:
- Ask your estate agent or letting agent to recommend an EPC assessor near you. Or
- Search in Google for EPC Certificate followed by your town, city or village name, then head to the map result listings on the page and find one or two with really good reviews (4 stars or more) and at least 10 or reviews (so that it is a fair reflection of their services). Call them and explain what you are looking for, ask their cost, and then choose the one who you believe will do the best job possible for you.
If you are selling or letting a property, you must obtain an EPC certificate, and now you know how to do so.
If you need help from a specialist property solicitor, that is where we can help.
Call us now on 0845 1391399 or complete a Free Online Enquiry ».
