EPC – Energy Performance Certificate
EPC INSTRUCTION FORM
10% cheaper
EPC for BLA Members is discounted. They are 10% cheaper than what is available to the public. The average cost is about £55. This will vary depending on the property’s location that requires an EPC.
The BLA service provider Providing EPC is Propcert. For members to order an EPC, please complete the form below. Propcert will receive your form and will, in turn, contact you directly and make all necessary arrangements with you.
NOTE* It may be the case that your property may not need an EPC. We recommend our members check if their property falls under the following category before requesting an EPC.
- Places of worship
- Temporary buildings that are due to be used for less than 2 years
- Buildings that are due to be demolished, listed buildings
- Residential buildings to be used less than 4 months a year
- Holiday accommodation that is rented out for less than 4 months a year
EPC changes from 1st April 2018
1st April 2018, further changes came into force to the Energy Performance Certificate Regulations. Landlords of the least energy-efficient buildings in the UK will be unable to let or sell their property.
An EPC contains information about a property’s energy use, typical energy costs and recommendations for reducing energy consumption. An EPC gives a property an energy efficiency rating from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient), and an EPC is valid for 10 years.
The EPC Regulations state that the owner must supply potential buyers or tenants with a valid EPC from the inception date of marketing the property for sale or letting.
The EPC regulations are part of the Government’s plan to tackle climate change and reduce total carbon emissions by 80% by 2050.
Changes to the EPC Regulations
The changes to the EPC Regulations make it illegal to let residential or commercial properties with an EPC rating of “F” or “G”, the lowest grades of energy efficiency.
The new EPC regulations will also catch landlords of existing commercial properties if they choose to sublet surplus space to third parties.
The EPC regulations will also apply to existing lease renewals, including statutory renewals under the Landlord and Tenant 1954 Act. From 1 April 2023, the EPC regulations will then “bite” existing lettings that were entered into before the implementation date.
Limited exemptions to the EPC Regulations include properties that will be leased for a term of 99+ years or short lettings of 6 months or less.
Exemptions include: if the property owner cannot obtain consent from third parties (such as a superior landlord or planning authority) to do the works or where the improvements would negatively impact the property’s value.
However, these exemptions are only valid for five years, cannot be transferred to a new landlord and must be registered on the central PRS Exemptions Register.
How will the EPC Regulations be enforced?
Under the new EPC regulations, local authorities will have the authority to issue compliance notices and, ultimately, penalty notices determined by the property’s rateable value.
The penalties will reflect the degree of infringement and the length of non-compliance, with fines ranging from £2,000 to a maximum possible fine of £150,000.
How will the EPC Regulations affect property landlords?
Despite the obvious cost to property landlords that are caught by the EPC Regulations, the changes to the regulations could result in the following:
• Marketability of the affected properties could become impossible unless upgraded to meet the minimum standards.
• Valuations of such properties could be affected if their marketability is diminished; and
• Implications for dilapidated assessments and rent reviews.
How Long is an EPC valid for?
How long is an EPC valid is a very popular question for our advice line. An EPC is valid for up to 10 years. You can check when the EPC was issued by visiting the EPC online register.
EPC for rental property
It is a legal requirement to have a valid EPC before renting a property. Before advertising a property, you will require an Energy performance certificate before you are permitted to advertise. Letting agents and property search portals will not accept an advert without a valid certificate.
If you have just bought a property, it should already have a certificate. You cannot sell a property without an Energy Performance Certificate.
What should property landlords do?
The changes to the EPC regulations mean landlords should obtain an EPC as soon as they can when planning to let or sell their property.
If the energy performance rating is within A to E then the property can be put on the market, but if the rating is F or G, then works will need to be done to bring the property up to a higher efficiency standard.
You can read our blog on top Tips for landlords to meet minimum EPC rating, which may help you.
The EPC reports will highlight recommendations on how to improve energy efficiency. Work must be done before the property can be put on the market. You can ring the service provider PropCert or email them after you have submitted the form should you need to speak to them: 0203 397 8220 [email protected]