Energy Performance Certificates (EPC's)

From 1st October 2008, landlords in England and Wales offering property for rent will be required by law to provide prospective tenants with an Energy Performance Certificate for their property.

EPC's explained

• What energy performance certificates are and why you need them?
• EPC information for landlords
• How your EPC can benefit you?

A good energy efficiency rating should indicate that utility bills will be lower

From 1 October 2008, in order to market your property for rent, you will need to have an EPC available for prospective tenants to view. If you don't you could be fined up to £200.

What is an EPC ?

This document is valid for 10 years and shows how good, or bad, the energy efficiency of your property is. It grades the property's energy efficiency from ‘A' to ‘G', with ‘A' being the highest rating.

If you have a new-build property, then it's likely to have a high rating, and if you have a second-hand home, it's likely to be around ‘D' or ‘E'.

The EPC will also recommend how the rating could be improved, with suggestions for loft, floor and wall insulation, double glazing, and energy-efficient light bulbs.

The theory is that the better the rating your property gets, the more attractive it should be to a tenant as it indicates lower energy bills.

EPC information for landlords

As a landlord you can produce the EPC yourself, but it can be a very expensive way of doing things. Becoming an accredited assessor can cost thousands of pounds, so whether this is worthwhile depends on the number of properties you have.

Alternatively, CityWest Homes Residential can arrange for an accredited energy assessor to visit your property and produce an EPC as well as take professional photos and floorplans.

What are the benefits of an EPC to a landlord?

Whether you let privately or via a letting agent, it's worth making sure tenants understand you have made the effort to produce an EPC .

Secondly, if your property's EPC rating is above the average ‘D' rating, it's likely the utility bills the tenant will pay will be less than other properties they may be considering. This is one way of showing tenants that you are a conscientious landlord and your property is being let within the law. It may also help ensure that the tenant chooses your property over others.

What happens if you haven't got an EPC ?

If you have a property that you let or re-let after 1 October 2008 and you can't produce an EPC for it, you'll be marketing your property illegally and may be fined up to £200 for not having the certificate. This could mean you lose an existing or potential tenant and will therefore leave your property empty.