Landlords and Letting Agents 

 

 

RENTAL ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATES (EPCs) EXPLAINED

  

From 1st October 2008 sellers and landlords have been required by law to commission an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for all residential properties to be let. The EPC is a mandatory document that you need have BEFORE you can rent out any propertyThere is a duty on the landlord and/or estate/letting agents to provide a copy of a valid EPC to new tenants on signing contracts. There's good news - at present the certificates last for 10 years, therefore once you have one you can carry on as normal.  

Don't delay and risk penalisation - There has been a huge demand from landlords and Letting agents to assess their properties and with limited qualified and accredited assessors you may face lengthy delays in getting your properties assessed. Remember not having a valid EPC certificate before advertising your property for rent is now against the law and subject to financial penalties. At Berkshire HIP we're fully equipped to deal with all your Landlord EPC requirements, whether it's an emergency EPC or an entire property portfolio, we won't let you down.

ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATES: A guide for landlords & agents

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO YOU?

If you are offering any accommodation for sale or let (this includes sub-letting) you will need an EPC. An EPC should be provided to a prospective buyer or tenant at the earliest opportunity and no later than when a viewing is conducted or when information is provided about the building or in any event before entering into a contract to sell or let. As a seller or landlord you are responsible for ensuring that the property has an EPC, even if an agent is acting on your behalf.


HOW LONG ARE EPCs VALID FOR?

At present an EPC for rental property is valid for 10 years, or until a newer EPC is prepared. During this period the EPC may be made available to buyers or new tenants.


DOES MY BUILDING REQUIRE AN ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATE / EPC?

If you have a building (with a roof and walls) that uses energy to condition the indoor climate (i.e. has heating, air conditioning or mechanical ventilation) then you will require an EPC when it is sold or let. Parts of a building designed or altered to be used as separate accommodation may require their own EPC. Any separate residential accommodation that is self-contained will require its own EPC


WHAT HAPPENS IF I DO NOT HAVE AN ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATE?

The penalty for failing to make an EPC available to any prospective buyer or tenant when selling or letting non-dwellings is 12.5% of the rateable value of the building, subject to a minimum penalty of £500 and a maximum of £5,000. The EPC will still be required. The penalties for residential dwellings are expected to be £200 per non compliance; however this may be adjusted up or down closer to implementation.


ARE THERE ANY CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE I DON’T NEED AN EPC?

EPCs are not required before the construction of a building is completed. Nor are they required on the sale, rent or construction of:
• Places of worship;
• Temporary buildings with a planned time of use less than 2 years;
• Stand alone buildings with a total useful floor area of less than 50m2 that are not dwellings;
• Industrial sites, workshops and non-residential agricultural buildings with low energy demand

 
A helping hand from Berkshire HIP

As we mentioned earlier theres a many changes ahead with a lot to consider, but choosing a reliable and professional supplier for your rental EPCs shouldn't be one of them. Berkshire HIP is committed to helping our partners through this period of change, allowing a better understanding of the changes and their implications whilst minimising the distruption to your landlords / tenants.

We're here to help, any questions or queries, big or small feel free to contact us... we'll only be too happy to assist. Alternativley for independent EPC reading material please see our links page.

 

 

 

 Just a quick reminder that we provide landlord EPCs / Landlord Energy Performance Certificates throughout Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Hampshire and Buckinghamshire. That includes all the towns and villages in between including Reading, Newbury, Thatcham, Maidenhead, Slough and Windsor in Berkshire. In Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire we cover from High Wycombe and Marlow to Oxford, EPCs Didcot and Abingdon. For other locations not mentioned please contact us for more information.