When renting, selling, or leasing a commercial or residential property in Scotland, property owners and landlords are obligated to give EPCs to any potential tenant or buyer. EPCs must be carried out by an accredited domestic energy assessor which you can source in your area at the government's official EPC register
Do I need an EPC?
It is legally required to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) produced and accessible for potential buyers or renters to assess how energy efficient a building is when a commercial property or residential property is listed.
When your house goes on the market, you must at the very least have applied for an EPC if you intend to sell your house. It makes sense to resolve an EPC as soon as possible to avoid the selling process being slowed down.
If you want to sell your property, you could also discover that a low EPC rating lowers its worth and marketability. If you believe it will have an impact on your capacity to sell, it can be worthwhile to invest in improving your home’s energy efficiency.
EPC cost varies on three important factors:
- Residential or commercial area
- Size of the place
- Layout
How Long Does an EPC Last?
There is no need to make a fresh EPC report for each new customer or tenant if you have already made this report.
You may show the EPC certificate to anyone who is interested in your property. It is valid for the next 10 years after it is granted.
You will need to schedule another examination of the new property after 10 years. If there are any changes made to the property during this period of validity, a new report or an updated EPC will need to be submitted.
This responsibility rests with the property owner or landlord, who is required by law to see to the certificate update.
If the structure is an EPC listed building, it cannot be advertised for rent or sale without the certificate.
If an agent has been hired to advertise the building or property, they are required to include a copy of the report document in every piece of commercial media they create, including brochures, websites, and written materials.
Get a fresh study done if there are any changes, such as an increase or decrease in the property’s energy needs.
The same circumstances apply whenever a new building is constructed. The establishment of an original certificate is the responsibility of the builder in charge of the building.
Energy regulation is governed by the Department of Finance, and it has an immediate effect on your property and bill.
Therefore, it is advised that you always take advice for energy enhancement carefully.
You will be given a penalty charge notice and a defined action if you are asked by an inspector to produce the documentation or EPC and fail to do so.
A typical fine for a house is £500, and it may be as high as £4000 for larger buildings. So, avoid the penalty and invest in the energy performance certificate cost for better energy utilities.
