Energy Performance Certificates (EPC’s)

10th September 2008

T. Wyn Jones

With affect from 1st October 2008 everyone selling or letting property should provide an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for all residential and commercial buildings or parts of buildings that are on the market.

An Energy Performance Certificate gives prospective buyers, or tenants, information on the energy efficiency and carbon emissions of a building and they must be provided “at the earliest opportunity”. EPC’s should not be confused with the Home Information Pack (HIPS), which is a much more comprehensive and expensive exercise already in place for more recently marketed residential properties.

This recent tranche of Government legislation means that Landlords and Vendors alike will incur additional costs to market their properties but it is the view of the Government that the benefits outweigh said costs. As to my view? I’ll remain silent on the subject.

McCartneys have been proactive in addressing this legislation and have a team of qualified professional surveyors who can carry out a survey on your property and provide you with an EPC. The Government position is changing daily with U turn upon U turn taking place but at the time of writing this article the Government had just changed tack from stating that “all properties must” to “all properties should” have an EPC by 1st October.

So if we can be of assistance in this respect please contact your local McCartneys office where our staff can update you as to the current position.

Remember the position is changing daily but the day that the EPC will be a requirement coming. You may even wish to be ahead of the game and arrange for this work to be carried out now!

Please call us if we can help.