When did energy performance certificates start
Energy Performance Certificates were introduced by the government in an attempt to make people become more aware of the energy that a building uses. They also help potential buyers or tenants have an idea of how energy efficient the property is (also effecting their energy bills). An EPC also helps to make a building more energy efficient by giving them recommendations of improvement.
They are issued in the UK by our professional team when the occupation of a building changes and are issued as a result of an inspection by an accredited assessor to give the new occupants a detailed understanding of the energy performance of the building at that time.
In the Beginning…
EPC’s were first introduced by the UK government on 1st August 2007 in England and Wales. They were introduced due to the requirements of the EU Directive on the energy performance of buildings and were to be part of the Home Information Pack (HIP), which was supplied by people who were selling properties with four bedrooms or more.
The requirements to have an EPC when a building was being sold or rented were then gradually extended to all buildings, both domestic and commercial.
The government changed the legal requirement of a HIP in May 2010, but the need to provide an EPC remained and it is still an important aspect of selling or renting a building today.
EPC’s Today
Today, there are three kinds of EPC – a Domestic EPC, a Commercial EPC and a Display Energy Certificate – also known as a DEC.
- A Domestic Energy Certificate is required when a building – which is the dwelling of one family – is sold or rented, regardless of the size. Therefore, if you are either selling or renting out your property, you will need to provide an EPC.
There are, however, some exceptions, which include; temporary buildings that won’t be used for more than two years, stand-alone buildings with a total floor space of less than 50m², workshops and non-residential sites which use little energy, holiday accommodation or residential buildings which are let out for four months or less per year, and some listed buildings.
If a domestic property does not have an EPC when it is being sold or rented out, a fine is applicable.
- A Commercial Energy Certificate is required if you are selling or leasing a commercial property. They are also required if you’ve recently had construction done on your property, which you must have completed before the property is advertised.
Some of the exceptions for not needing a Commercial EPC include: if it is a place of worship, temporary structures which will not be used for more than two years, stand-alone buildings with a total floor space of less than 50m², properties which already have a demolition order in place, properties with a low demand for energy such as agricultural buildings.
A commercial building which does not have an EPC when it is required could be fined between £500 and £5000.
- A Display Energy Certificate is required by public buildings and must be displayed to advise the public who are using the building of its energy efficiency. By law it must be placed in a prominent place – often by the reception or near the main entrance – and the failure to do this can result in a fine.
The law says that you need to have a DEC if you meet three criteria – that:
- the building is partly or fully occupied by a public authority – such as a leisure centre, the NHS, a college, council premises, or museum
- it has a total floor area of over 250m²
- it is regularly visited by members of the public (regardless of how many people actually turn up)
In addition to this, if the total useful floor area is over 1000m², you should renew the DEC every year. If the total floor area is between 250m²and 1000m², the certificate would be valid for ten years.
Book an EPC with us today.