How much is an EPC in Northampton
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) usually costs between £39 and £69 (including VAT). The cost depends on a number of factors, including the type of property you own and how many bedrooms it has. As there are no fixed fees it’s worth comparing quotes for registered energy assessors to make sure you’re getting the best price.
You cannot issue an EPC yourself and you might be offered the services via an estate or letting agent, however to get the best EPC cost, make sure you get the assessment completed directly.
What is involved in the EPC cost?
The cost of an EPC covers the survey that is completed by an accredited Domestic Energy Assessor and the Energy Performance Certificate itself.
The Certificate identifies how energy efficient the property is, grading it on a scale from A to G, with A meaning ‘Very Efficient’ and G meaning ‘Not Very Efficient.’ The average energy efficiency rating for a property in England and Wales is band D.
The EPC will also assign the property a number from 1-100, with a higher number signifying that the property is more energy efficient. A more energy efficient home means that fuel bills will cost less.
What does a Domestic Energy Assessor do?
When you pay for the cost of an EPC, you are also paying for the services provided by a Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA). The EPC usually takes between 45 minutes and an hour to complete.
The DEA will carry out a number of health and safety checks on your property and take dimensions throughout the building to identify areas where heat may be lost, for example through windows, ceilings and walls.
The property will be inspected to give an indication of how much it will cost to power and heat your home. The EPC also identifies the amount you could potentially save should you improve the energy efficiency of the household running costs as outlined within the Certificate.
The survey also includes:
- Inspection of room heaters, boilers, heating controls and fireplaces
- Record of fuel type to heat the property
- A survey of any extensions on the property plus the construction type (solid brick, stone etc.) and age of the property
- Inspection of insulation present in the loft and walls
- Record of low energy lighting
- Inspection on the types of glazing on windows
Once completed, the data is recorded on a property datasheet and the EPC is produced. The Certificate is then sent to the agent and/or property owner within 2 days, logged with Landmark Registry and stored with all copies of Certificates with the government portal.
What other costs are involved with an EPC?
Along with the cost of the Certificate itself and the service provided by the Domestic Energy Assessor, there may be the added cost of any work that may need to be carried out to improve the energy efficiency on your property.
The EPC can act as a useful guide to help you focus on the main areas where improvements can be made to reduce the household running costs. Improving the EPC on your property and making your home more energy efficient could also increase its value.
EPC Exemptions
An EPC is not required if you can demonstrate that the building is at least one of the following:
- Officially protected or listed
- A temporary building that is only going to be used for 2 years or less
- A workshop, industrial site or non-residential agricultural building that doesn’t use much energy
- A place of worship or building to be used for other religious activities
- A detached building with under 50 square metres of total floor space
- A building that is due to be demolished by the seller or landlord with the relevant planning and conservation documentation
A building is also exempt from requiring an EPC if all of the following are true:
- The building is due to be rented out or sold with vacant possession
- The building is suitable for demolition and the buyer or tenant has applied for planning permission to demolish the building
- The demolished site could be redeveloped
Book an EPC with Northants EPC today.