A question many people ask is if they can issue their own EPC certificate themselves.
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) provides information on how energy efficient your home is, the costs of lighting and heating your home, the likely CO2 emissions, and the potential energy rating with cost-effective improvements you can make.
An EPC remains valid for ten years from the date it was issued. It provides essential information that can help you or prospective buyers identify ways to prevent energy wastage, decrease your carbon footprint, and save money in the long term. The energy ratings and calculations are based on the energy consumption patterns of a typical household residing on that property.
Do I Need An EPC?
You require an EPC if your property is being constructed, put up for sale or rented. It is necessary to have the EPC readily available when your property is on the market so that prospective renters or buyers can compare and make informed decisions about which property to choose.
The EPC also recommends improvements that could be made to the property, estimates the costs of these improvements, and predicts the savings that could result. This is useful for anyone seeking to renovate or restore a property.
After making improvements to your property, obtaining an updated EPC that includes these changes is advisable to achieve a better rating.
The responsibility of obtaining an EPC falls on different parties depending on the situation. For example, the landlord is responsible for obtaining an EPC if it’s being rented. The seller is responsible for obtaining an EPC if the property is sold.
Finally, if the property is being built, the person responsible for construction must get an EPC.
Can I Carry Out An EPC Assessment?
An EPC cannot be conducted by just anyone. You need to arrange for an accredited assessor to obtain an EPC certificate. The time it takes to complete an EPC assessment depends on the property type, with a domestic EPC usually taking 30 to 40 minutes and a commercial EPC taking around 45 minutes.
How Do You Obtain An EPC?
To obtain an EPC for your property in the UK, you can search for an accredited EPC assessor on the government’s official register. In addition, you can contact us for further advice on how to obtain your EPC.
The cost of an EPC can vary between £60 to £120, so it’s important to compare prices to find the best deal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you issue an EPC yourself in the UK?
No, an EPC cannot be issued by a homeowner or landlord themselves. It must be produced by a qualified and accredited Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA) or Non-Domestic Energy Assessor who is registered with an approved government accreditation scheme. This ensures the assessment is carried out using standardised methods and meets legal requirements.
Who is allowed to produce an EPC in Scotland?
Only accredited energy assessors are permitted to carry out EPC inspections and generate certificates in Scotland. These professionals are trained to evaluate a property’s energy performance and must use approved software and methodologies to ensure consistent and compliant results.
Why can’t property owners create their own EPC?
Property owners cannot create their own EPC because the assessment requires technical knowledge of building construction, heating systems, insulation values, and energy modelling. Allowing self-issued EPCs would lead to inconsistent and unreliable ratings, which is why the process is regulated and controlled by accredited assessors.
What are the risks of attempting to produce your own EPC?
Attempting to produce your own EPC would result in an invalid certificate that cannot be used for selling or renting a property. It could also cause legal issues, delays in property transactions, and potential penalties, since EPCs must be lodged on the official register by an approved assessor.
How do you get a valid EPC in Scotland?
To obtain a valid EPC, you must book an accredited Domestic Energy Assessor who will visit the property, carry out an inspection, and produce the certificate using approved software. Once completed, the EPC is lodged on the official register and can then be used for selling, renting, or compliance purposes.