What is an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and why do I need it?

The EPC, or Energy Performance Certificate, is a certificate which gives an idea of how expensive a property is to run in terms of gas and electricity costs. They're required by law if you intend to sell or rent a property out, but once you've paid for it it'll be valid for 10 years across multiple tenancies. It costs around £60 to £120 to have an EPC carried out.

How does the EPC work?

The EPC will rank your property on a scale of 1-100, with a top 'A' grade being a score of 92 or above. The energy efficiency part of your EPC will give information about where your property currently ranks and where it could rank if certain improvements are made, which can be a helpful starting point if you're thinking of upgrading your property.

When your EPC assessment is being carried out, an assessor will take into consideration a wide range of factors, including the materials used in the walls and floors, any insulation which has been fitted, the boiler efficiency, and even the light bulbs that are in place.

Why do I need an EPC?

An EPC is now a legal requirement for any properties which are newly built, sold, or rented out. The purpose of the EPC is to improve transparency in the property market and ensure that buyers and renters know more about the running costs of the property they're taking on. If you want to put your property on the rental market, it will need to score an 'E' grade or higher, which requires a score of at least 39.

How can I improve my EPC rating?

Unless your EPC rating is almost perfect, there are likely many ways in which you can improve it, such as:

• Upgrading to double glazing can boost your rating

• Loft insulation can improve your rating by 10 points or more

• Replacing an old boiler could gain you up to 20 points

• Investing in solar panels can net you an extra 10 points

• Cavity wall insulation, if needed, can add 5-10 points to your score

By improving your EPC rating, you can lower your tenants' energy costs and in turn make your property a much more attractive prospect in a busy rental market. Most of the upgrades you can make to boost your EPC rank will also add to the value of your property, so if you can afford them, they are all sound investments, too.

Taking all the above into consideration, you can still save on energy bills!

Get a no obligation quote to see just how much you could save on energy bills, simply complete the form HERE.