our services

If the sale of your home needs a Home Information Pack, you will need an Energy Performance Certificate as part of the pack.

If you are buying an existing home that has a Home Information Pack, you should expect to find an Energy Performance Certificate as part of the pack provided to you by the seller. This will give you information about the energy efficiency of the home you are interested in purchasing.

EPCs will also be needed from October 2008 when homes are sold without requiring a Home Information Pack (for example, a non-marketed private sale between individuals, a portfolio sale of homes, or a Right to Buy sale to a social housing tenant).

The Home Information Pack contains important information that buyers and sellers need to know. Home Information Packs including Energy Performance Certificates have been implemented on a phased basis which started on 1 August 2007. To find out what's in Home Information Pack click here.

From 1 October 2008, if you are renting out your property, you will need to provide a certificate to any prospective tenant. There is no need to obtain a Energy Performance Certificate for an existing tenancy.

First day marketing changes from April 6th  It is no longer possible to place a property on the market without the HIP being in place. The minimum documents required to market the property are: Index, the New Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ), Sales Statement, Evidence of Title, Energy Performance Certificate or a Predicted Energy Assessment (PEA).

Once obtained, a certificate remains valid for up to 10 years. If a valid Energy Performance Certificate still exists when changing tenants no new certificate is required. This applies to both private and social sector landlords and tenants.

Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) explained

What is an Energy Performance Certificate?
The Energy Performance Certificate or EPC is the energy efficiency rating of a property/building as well as the projected carbon emissions of that property. The rating is represented graphically on a scale from A to G, where A stands for the most efficient energy performance and G stands for the least efficient energy performance.

Why is the Energy Performance Certificate so Important?
EPC's are a direct outcome of the European Union Directive 2002/91/EC, inspired by the Kyoto Protocol aimed at cutting back on energy consumption and ecological deterioration due to CO 2 emissions, incorporated in Housing Act 2004

About 40% of UK's energy consumption results from domestic uses - due to lighting, heating, air-conditioning and other household uses. The issuance of EPCs will be a concrete step in curtailing this massive consumption. They not only give an estimation of the energy efficiency, EPC's also have necessary information to help improve the energy-efficiency of a home/building.

Further information on how to take action and to find out about grants for making your home more energy efficient can be obtained by contacting the  Energy Savings Trust on  0800 512 012 or visit www.est.org.uk/myhome.

Lowering of energy consumption will cut down on carbon emissions simultaneously. This way, EPC's not only help save money and energy, but also successfully contribute to the cause of environmental improvement.

EPCs & HIPs
An Energy Performance Certificate is the most important 'required' document in a Home Information Pack. Included in the HIP as part of Government's initiative to support a greener housing market, EPCs have immensely helped the buying/selling process, making the process transparent and fast.

Again, EPC's are helping buyers take the right decisions by providing them adequate information. Actually, the better the rating, the higher is the energy efficiency of the property and the lower the fuel bills. With lower energy consumption, expenses will be less and the impact on the climate will be favorable. This being the case, a property with a good energy performance rating will invite more buyers.

With suitable advises on ways of saving energy and cutting carbon emissions, EPC's have helped property sellers enhance their reliability; the buyers too benefit in that they can now make their new homes energy-efficient and bio-friendly.

Issuing EPC's
In compliance with the European Directive for the Energy Performance of Buildings, all member countries of the European Union have been directed to introduce EPC's as a measure to curb energy wastage and harmful ecological consequences. Hence, the UK government now requires the sellers to submit EPC's as part of Home Information Packs. Property-owners, who are contemplating to sell their holdings can either obtain EPC's by directly seeking the services of Domestic Energy Assessors, Home Inspectors or approach them through their agents.