Change of tenant
EPCs are valid for 10 years and can be reused as many times as needed within that period. In short, it is not necessary to arrange for a new EPC each time there is a change of tenant.
Landlords providing emergency accommodation are exempt, up to a point. Where a tenant requires accommodation because of an emergency there may not be enough time to arrange an EPC before renting out the home. The EPC must however be provided as soon as possible after the property has been rented.
Various features
The Energy Assessment takes into consideration various features of a property: the age, size, shape of the property, the building materials used to construct, heating and hot water systems, and whether it is single or double-glazed.
The cost of arranging an EPC will vary depending upon your approach to sourcing, and type of property. For a two-bed flat, for example, the cost will be in the region of £100 to £150.
So what, if any, are the consequences of not providing an EPC? Well, if a landlord fails to provide an EPC when it is required, Trading Standards can issue a notice with a penalty charge of £200 per dwelling.
In addition to the penalty charge the landlord will still have to arrange for an assessment to be carried out and an EPC to be provided.
There a number of ways to source energy assessors
Your insurance broker: your property broker will understand the impact the legislation has on you whether you own one property or a portfolio, and they may be informing their customers of the legislative requirement. Those at the forefront of servicing their customer needs may have their own facility for costing, sourcing and arranging the Energy Assessment and provision of the EPC direct through them.
Stuart Alexander has developed a facility in partnership with energy assessors Charterhouse Energy, which allows people to purchase EPCs and Housing Information Packs (HIPs) online at www.stuartalexander.co.uk.
The EPC Register at www.epcregister.com where you can enter a postcode and the search will provide you with an appropriate assessor, their contact details and qualifications.
Sole traders advertised locally.
For more information on Energy Performance Certificates visit http://campaigns.direct.gov.uk/epc/, for a quotation, please visit www.stuartalexander.co.uk
