Landlords - Were You Ready For EPCs?

Since 1st October 2008, all rental properties with a new tenancy in England and Wales have been required to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).

Why should you care?

Because your prospective tenants will be able to easily see how energy efficient and environmentally friendly your properties are, and if you have invested in energy saving measures your properties will perform well and will really stand out from the crowd. If not you may find them harder to rent out in future.

What is an Energy Performance Certificate?

Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) look similar to the energy labels found on domestic appliances such as fridge freezers and washing machines.

The energy efficiency and environmental impact of your property will be rated on a scale from A-G (where A is the most efficient and G the least efficient) as shown below. Current running costs for heating, hot water and lighting will also be shown on the certificate, together with a list of recommended energy saving improvements.

How do I get an Energy Performance Certificate?

Either you or your letting agent will have to commission one from an accredited Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA). They will visit your property to assess the age, construction and location of the property as well as its current fittings such as heating systems, insulation, double glazing etc. DEAs can be found in local directories or via this website.

How much do they cost?

The cost of an EPC will vary. At the moment average costs range between 40 pounds - 120 pounds, so it's worth shopping around.

What can I do to make my energy rating as high as possible?

1.) Insulating your property is the most cost effective measure you can take. In most cases cavity wall insulation is straightforward, inexpensive and hassle-free. Installing new loft insulation in most properties is an easy DIY job and should be done to a depth of 270mm.

2.) If your boiler is over fifteen years old it's probably time to replace it and you'll get a better rating if you combine it with modern heating controls. If you need to save space, buy a combi boiler, which does not store hot water in a tank but heats water directly from the cold water mains as it is used.

3.) Fit a hot water tank jacket.

4.) While double glazing can be fairly expensive, it will reduce noise and lower heating bills.

5.) When purchasing new appliances look out for the Energy Saving Recommended logo, and choose the most energy efficient in their category.

Are there grants to help cover installation costs?

There are several grants available that can cut your costs by half or even to zero!

If your tenants are in receipt of certain benefits you may be able to get your property insulated at a significant discount or even for free.

If you have insulated your properties you can also reduce your income tax by claiming under the Landlords Energy Saving Allowance.

Why is the Government introducing Energy Performance Certificates?

Domestic energy use accounts for 27 percent of the UK's carbon dioxide emissions. The Government is introducing a number of energy saving initiatives, including EPCs, aimed at making all buildings more energy efficient. These measures are being applied across all European Union countries as per the European Directive for the Energy Performance of Buildings.

Where can I find out how energy efficient my properties are?

The Energy Saving Trust will provide you with a personalised Home Energy Check report on each of your properties for free.

Seed Newsvine

Bookmark this article in your preferred program

Comments

Add Comment

Popular Articles in this cathegory

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.