Regularly referred to as an EPC, the Energy Performance Certificate was introduced by the UK government in an attempt to undertake periodic audit of the UK’s built environment and to assess its energy efficiency and nudge/require* property owners to improve the energy efficiency of their property.
A property owner must have a valid EPC whenever a property is built, sold or let.
An Energy Performance Certificate contains:
- information about a property’s energy use and typical energy costs
- recommendations about how to reduce energy use and save money
- An EPC gives a property an energy efficiency rating from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient) and is valid for 10 years.
At present, the following buildings do not require an EPC;
- places of worship
- temporary buildings that will be used for less than 2 years
- stand-alone buildings with total useful floor space of less than 50 square metres
- industrial sites, workshops and non-residential agricultural buildings that don’t use a lot of energy
some buildings that are due to be demolished - holiday accommodation that’s rented out for less than 4 months a year or is let under a licence to occupy
- listed buildings - you should get advice from your local authority conservation officer if the work would alter the building’s character
- residential buildings intended to be used less than 4 months a year
*Current regulations relating to EPCs include prohibition of the renting of property that does not have an energy rating of band E or better. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in significant fines of up to £5,000.
Related article:
Download our Free First Time Buyers Guide
Recent posts
Reasons to get a Buy to Let Mortgage
Yesterday
Following recent changes in the Buy to Let market, some investors may find this product less appealing. However, if done correctly, building a buy to let portfolio can be very profitable.
Stamp duty: how is it changing in 2025?
14 days ago
Helping you understand the upcoming changes in stamp duty (SDLT) from April 2025.
UK homebuyers and homeowners are hoping for stability in 2025.
We are hoping that mortgage rates will ease this year, but how drastically depends on inflation trends, swap rates, and the Bank of England’s decisions in which way the base rate should go.
Budgeting over the Christmas Period
3 Dec 2024
The most wonderful time of the year can easily turn into the most expensive time of the year. Watching the pennies doesn’t mean that the Christmas festivities have to stop, following a few budgeting tips can mean you still have a special Christmas and don’t go into the new year in debt.
Preparing your home to sell in winter
29 Nov 2024
December is usually a less desirable time to buy as many people don’t want to move over the holidays. However, prospective buyers do start to look at this time. Selling your home in winter may require a bit of extra attention to showcase your property at its best.
We look at why mortgage rates increased following the Bank of England's choice to reduce the bank rate, and should you fix now?
UK 2024 Autumn Budget: Housing
30 Oct 2024
On 30th October 2024 the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves delivered the Autumn budget which we had previously been warned would be “difficult”. Below we have summarised the main housing points.
Talking about money with kids
23 Oct 2024
In an increasingly cashless society, money is an intangible concept for children to grasp. In the days of coins and notes, kids could see money as something physical you require to purchase goods and services.
In order to help teach your children about money, we have listed some tips below;
More information
Trusted by
