26^th April 2019

There’s a lot of important tasks to do when letting or selling your property. And organising an energy performance certificate (EPC) should be a priority. If you are selling, letting or building a property in the UK, you musthave an EPC certificate.

With energy costs rising, it’s one of the biggest financial impacts on home running costs. That’s why it’s so important, for you and your tenants, to be able to calculate how much energy your home will consume.

What is an EPC Certificate?

 An EPC certificate is an effective way of calculating how energy efficient your property is, and how much CO2 the property omits. By looking at the chart, you can estimate how much it should cost to heat and light the property every month. The dark green colour (graded ‘A’) is the most efficient and red (graded ‘G’) being the most inefficient grading.

Does your property need an EPC Certificate?

The answer is yes if you’re selling or renting out your property. There are exceptions, however. These may include property types such as listed buildings or churches. For a full list of exceptions, head over to the government’s EPC website.

So if you’re going to rent out a property, make sure you have an EPC certificate ready for your tenants to view. If you don’t have one, you are at risk of a fine.

 Top Tip: Even if you’re not selling or renting a property, why not get an EPC certificate to understand how much money you could be saving on your energy?

 Why get an EPC Certificate?

The latest EPC certificates provide more detail when it comes to keeping an eye on energy. It can highlight areas you can improve your property’s efficiency. It also provides potential upgrade costs, whether it be heating, lighting or water improvements.

Your EPC certificate can show your potential savings after you’ve made the upgrades. It’s a great way of weighing up whether it’s right for your property (and your budget).

Cost aside, it’s always best practice to aim for the lowest possible EPC rating for your property. And to do this, invest time in making changes to improve your property’s efficiency. Exercises could be as simple as installing loft insulation or draught-proofing windows and doors.

How do you get an EPC Certificate?

 If you’re letting or selling your property, the team at Matthews of Chestercan organise an EPC certificate on your behalf. Contact our Letting Management Team today or call 01244 346 226.