An EPC is a document that specifies the energy efficiency of your home. 'EPC' stands for 'Energy Performance Certificate.' It evaluates several parts of your house and determines how efficient they are. Your property will receive a letter grade ranging from A to G. Your EPC certificate will also show you where you may save money by improving your house and what grade you could get. If your EPC is more than 10 years old when it is first granted, a new one must be obtained before you may sell or rent your home.
How Long Does an EPC Last?
A certificate of energy efficiency is good for ten years. This certificate must be obtained legally before a property may be put on the market, as was already explained. You will need to get a newly updated certificate if you get an EPC and then make changes to your property. Depending on the worth of your home, you might be penalised anywhere from £500 to £5000 if you don’t have a valid certificate.
If a commercial building has a total size of more than 500 square metres, it must show its energy certificate. Additionally, evidence of how frequently people visit the facility must be provided.
Why are landlords getting fined over their EPC?
Landlords who rent out a home with an EPC rating of F or G will now be subject to a civil penalty of up to £5,000 for breaking the government’s new Domestic Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) legislation starting on April 1, 2020.
For domestic, privately rented properties, the MEES regulations set a minimum energy efficiency level. If your property has an EPC rating of E or higher, you are in compliance with the regulations and can exhale with relief—at least for the time being—before learning more about the government’s 2022 plans.
However, if your property has an EPC rating of F or G, you are in violation of the law and may be subject to a hefty punishment. The amount of the fine will depend on how long you have been in violation of the law.
If renters believe their landlord is breaking the law, they must notify the First-Tier Tribunal General Regulatory Chamber and file a complaint.
EPC Register and EPC Checker
Every EPC in the UK is included in the government’s online database known as the EPC registry. There are several uses for the register. For instance, you may look for an energy performance certificate for a house by postcode using the register’s EPC retrieval website.
This may be used to seek for your personal certificate as well as the certificate for a property you’re thinking about moving into.
You must obtain an EPC before selling your home if it doesn’t already have one.
