Total Energy Compliance
Why is an EPC required?
To satisfy the requirements of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) which covers the green issue of reducing carbon dioxide emissions and the political issue of security of energy supplies in the medium to long term. The certificate is valid for 10 years from the date of issue.
When is an EPC required?
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is required when a building, (including a part of a building which has been designed or altered to be used separately) is constructed, sold or let.
When is an EPC not required for domestic and commercial properties?
An EPC is not required for any property that was occupied prior to Oct 1.
st 2008 and which continues to be occupied by the same tenant. An Epc is not required for the following, Places of worship, buildings due to be demolished in the next two years., temporary building with a planned time of use less than 2 years, building that have a useful floor area of less than 50m2 that are not dwellings.Domestic EPCs for sale
In this case, the EPC is often arranged by the selling agent who is acting on behalf of a seller or it can be arranged by the seller themselves. An EPC must have been commissioned before marketing a property for sale. The EPC must be in place within 28 days from the point of marketing.
What if, it is a private sale?
An EPC is still required as soon as the building is in the process of being offered for sale. This is often dealt with when contracts are formed by a solicitor. It is the responsibility of the seller to commission an EPC even when it is a private sale.
Domestic EPCs for Let
It is good practice for a letting agent/landlord to obtain an EPC at the point of marketing a property to let. It is the landlords responsibility to commission an EPC and ensure a copy of it is available free of charge to prospectivetenants at the earliest opportunity. As a minimum, this should be when prospective tenants are first given written information about a dwelling or are arranging to view the property and before any rental contract is entered into.
Commercial EPCs for sale
In this case, the EPC is often arranged by the selling agent who is acting on behalf of a seller or it can be arranged by the seller themselves.
Commercial EPCs to Let
It is good practice for a letting agent/landlord to obtain an EPC at the point of marketing a property to let. It is the landlords responsibility to commission an EPC and ensure a copy of it, including the recommendation report, is available free of charge to prospective tenants at the earliest opportunity. For all Commercial Property sales and rentals, including privately arranged sales or rentals, the EPC must be made available to any prospective buyer or tenant at the earliest opportunity and in any instance when information in writing is first given to a person who requests information about the building, or when the building is first viewed by such a person.
Article Courtesy of Angelina Bell
