Gardner Leader

An Inspector Calls: The value of Energy Performance Certificates

Stuart Durrant, Conveyancing Partner at Gardner Leader Solicitors, takes a look at the value of Energy Performance Certificates.

I have been advising on Home Information Packs for some time now, and one of the major components is the Energy Performance Certificate or EPC.

An EPC is required by law when a building is constructed, sold or put up for rent. If you are a landlord or homeowner and need to provide an EPC, you'll need to contact an accredited domestic energy assessor. They will carry out the assessment and produce the certificate.

I have a property in Bournemouth which I let, so this year I had to get an EPC. It is always interesting to have direct experience with something that you advise about every day.  I am aware that double glazing, wall insulation, loft insulation will increase the energy efficiency of my property, and all of these I have. I recycle everything I can, I cycle and walk a lot rather than use the car. In short, I am probably pretty well up there when it comes to green issues. So when I come to choose my Energy Assessor, his expertise and the clarity of his report was not high up on my list of priorities. The law says I must have an EPC, so I will have to get one.

After  searching online, there appears to be a lot of companies offering EPCs from £40, which surprised me because when they first came out they were three or four times this price and the Government’s website suggested £100. Bizarrely, there are also a number of forums for energy assessors where most are saying, and I parapahrase, ‘they wouldn’t get out of bed for that sort of money.’

I eventually settled on a company called Greenhouse 37. I typed in my details and they provided a quote of £62 including the VAT. A few minutes later an assessor rang and we arranged a time – this was all incredibly efficient.

On the day a very pleasant man arrived on time, armed only with a clipboard and pen. To be frank he appeared a bit over-qualified to be doing a job like this. He moseyed around the house for a while, and asked me a number of questions about the age of the boiler and when the wall insulation was done, none of which I could answer. He commented that although the house was double glazed, the fact that I had one original feature window meant he could only designate the house as partially double glazed. He made a number of comments like ‘It should be alright’ (I didn’t know I could fail!) and left. He emailed me the EPC two hours later – apparently I’m a D58 but with a bit of effort I could be a C64.

So I got what I needed, but am I really any wiser about the energy efficiency of my property? Not really!

My EPC is valid for ten years and, if any of my tenants demand to see it, I must make it available to them free of charge. If I do not provide it I can be reported to the Trading Standards and I can be issued with a fixed penalty notice of £200.

Let’s now consider EPC’s from a different viewpoint. Artemis Stylianou has been working as a domestic energy assessor since 2007.  Artemis carries out assessments on properties for sale or rent and collects details of their dimensions, construction, heating and hot water. Using accredited software, she then provides the owner with an EPC, which contains information on the energy efficiency of the property.

Artemis says: “I’ve always been interested in the environment and the impact our homes and buildings have on carbon emissions and I think EPCs can make a real contribution to tackling climate change.

“During my time as an assessor, I’ve noticed an increasing awareness of EPCs. People are becoming more interested and open to ideas on how they can improve the carbon footprint of their homes.”

When Artemis talks people through their EPC rating and the suggested recommendations, she relates them to their day-to-day lives. The focus is on the savings that can be made on their monthly bills: “I help them understand how making small changes to their home can make a big difference – to their wallet and the environment.”

I can conclude therefore that the value of EPCs is whatever you make it. To some, an EPC will be nothing more than a piece of paper required by law. For others, who take the time to understand and act on the results, an EPC can be hugely valuable.

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