Property people get ready for new EPC rules

Property people get ready for new EPC rules

17:31 PM, 21st February 2012, About 13 years ago 46

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Landlords and letting agents must comply with a streamlined energy performance certificate scheme from April.

The government has given the green light to the new rules that bring EPC requirements for selling and letting residential and commercial property into line.

From April 6, all properties need a valid EPC certificate before marketing to let or for sale – and agents must be ‘satisfied’ a survey is booked before advertising the property.

The new regulations arm trading standards officers with powers to demand files from an agent to examine evidence an EPC was ordered before marketing.

The EPC should be available within seven days of marketing and a copy of the front page should be attached to all marketing particulars – including those available in print, online and email.

Prospective tenants and buyers are entitled to see a full copy of the EPC when viewing a property.

A more flexible time limit of up to 28 days is offered to complex commercial surveys.

EPC design also changes – the new certificate replaces complicated graphs on the front page with clearer information about the property’s energy costs and any measures that could be taken to cut them.

The top three tips for energy-saving improvements will be listed.

Homes or commercial property already on the market with an old-style EPC before April 6 do not need to buy a new certificate.

Failing to comply with the new regulations could cost landlords or agents fines up to £200 for homes or 12.5% of the rateable value with a minimum £500 and maximum £5,000 for commercial property.

Download more information from Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2011


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Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118

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11:07 AM, 9th March 2012, About 13 years ago

Hi Moira, if you get an EPC now it will be valid for 10 years, you will not need to get another new style one for 10 years to re-market your property, unless of copurse the goal posts are moved yet again!

Mary Latham

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12:29 PM, 9th March 2012, About 13 years ago

Moira I have put all the facts about the changes to EPC's here and also the coming changes that will affect all landlords
http://www.property118.com/index.php/what-do-april-12-changes-to-epcs-mean-to-us-as-landlords/25256/

Mary Latham

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12:31 PM, 9th March 2012, About 13 years ago

Mark the goal posts have not been moved it was always the intention of Government to use EPC for information gathering initially and then as a vehicle to inform tenants and landlords about how to save energy/cost

Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118

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16:38 PM, 9th March 2012, About 13 years ago

Hi Mary

I'm not suggesting the goal posts have been moved, I am, however, implying that they could be. What's to stop EPC's being scrapped and replaced with something that's very similar but needs an annual certificate. Can't be done? Ask plumbers about Corgi and GasSafe.

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19:29 PM, 9th March 2012, About 13 years ago

The other thing that could occur is that as you suggest an annual EPC would be required and this would be a very useful way for the govt to ascertain where all the rental properties are in the UK.
Now what would they do with all that lovely data!!!?

Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118

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22:23 PM, 9th March 2012, About 13 years ago

If the government really wanted that data all they would have to do is to compel the four Deposit Protection providers to give it to them. They could identify all student properties and properties let to LHA tenants by accessing Council Tax exemption records.

Mary Latham

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11:55 AM, 10th March 2012, About 13 years ago

EPC's are not like gas safety certification they are a record of what is and what could be.  The only time the EPC needs to be replaced is when the landlord has upgraded the building and has achieved a higher rating, he would want to have this certified as a marketing tool.

The cost involved in increasing the EPC is not frequency of renewal it is upgrading the thermal efficiency of the bulding and reducing fuel costs

Did you know that the most common hazzard found in a PRS property when an HHSRS inspection is carried out is lack of affordable warmth? This has been documented since HHSRS was introduced in the Housing Act 2004 and this is why the PRS are being targetted for the Green Deal which will help us to improve our properties at no cost.

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14:08 PM, 14th April 2012, About 13 years ago

I wouldnt touch the Green Deal with a bargepole. Tying yourself up for years with debt in the current economic climate is an idiot's choice. EPCs are just Brussels baggage, they are all very well but if no-one is interested in seeing them then there's no point in them at all. This Energy-efficiency "religion" has been swallowed with glee by our usual armies of local Stasi, all looking for a way to tax tax and tax again the population; by force, coercion, whatever.  Why? Because HM government is flat broke and needs to squeeze every last drop of money out of the population by whatever evil means they can think of; all based on "saving the planet" of course.
Sure, what a bright idea to link EPCs with council tax, so we watch ever more of our heritage properties, both listed and otherwise, disappear under acres of green bling, upvc and wall linings, all in the name of "saving energy".....whilst China continues building coal-fired power stations and consuming massive quantities of various fuels.
Double glazing is expensive and also ugly on period properties; ask the estate agents what their customers think of upvc windows in an ornate Victorian property. PV panels are sprouting everywhere on people's roofs, again very expensive installations. Internally, wall insulation destroys period features such as, cornices and plaster mouldings and also shrinks the sizes of the rooms.....not exactly very tasteful or desirable. You end up with a bland, faceless box to live in.

 Cheaper by far is simple loft insulation, draught-stripping and thick curtains on windows. But of course, Mr Energy Assessor doesnt like such simple ideas and won't even recognise SG or curtains.

Mary Latham

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17:32 PM, 14th April 2012, About 13 years ago

Krisuk, The Green Deal is going to give the landlord the "option" of bringing his property up to E on the EPC at no cost to himself.  The loan will be attached to the electric metre and will be paid by the person who pays that bill.  Any landlord can carry out the works required as his own expense should he choose to do so but if he does not reach an E by 2016 the tenant can force it and by 2018 he will not be able to let the property legally.

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17:04 PM, 19th April 2012, About 13 years ago

 You didnt answer my question about what happens to F and G properties. Conveniently avoided.

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