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March 6, 2020Who needs to get an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
Any landlord or homeowner in Belfast, Northern Ireland, who is planning to rent or sell their property are required to get an EPC. According to EU law, it is mandatory for homeowners to provide an EPC to prospective tenants or buyers. It is important to note that the buyers cannot be charged for the EPC.
Property owners in Belfast can be fined £200 if they do not possess an EPC. There are certain exceptions to having an EPC. If you are renting out a room within your house, then you do not need an EPC. However, if you have a flat within your larger house property, that has its own front door and facilities then an EPC is required.
Who can conduct an EPC survey?
The certified domestic energy assessors in Belfast can issue an EPC for your property. You can avail services from a letting agent or an estate agent. They have many energy assessors on their rolls who can issue an EPC to you. If you stay in Belfast and want an EPC, you can also get information on accredited assessors by visiting the Northern Ireland EPC Register.
What information is displayed on an EPC?
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) provides information related to the energy performance of a property and the estimated costs for heating and powering the property. It also gives information on recommendations that can result in potential cost savings.
Information about the premises, dwelling type, date of assessment and date of the certificate is displayed on an EPC. The contents of an EPC is easy to read and it looks like a multi-coloured sticker that is shipped with many electronic appliances. The cost of an EPC depends upon several factors like total floor area, number of bedrooms and your area.
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Energy efficiency rating
The energy efficiency rating is graded from A to G. Where G stands for lowest and A for highest efficiency rating. G grade means the property is old and uncomfortable for the occupants whereas A grade means the property is energy efficient and has modern energy-saving technology.
If an old property lacks energy-saving amenities, it would typically have an energy rating of grade D. As per the law, landlords need to have a minimum of E grade rating on their property. Properties are graded after inspection of different features of the house that can influence the energy efficiency.
In the case of failure to meet this rating, landlords can be fined up to £4000.
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Estimated costs of running your home
In addition to the energy efficiency rating, an EPC also has information on the estimated energy costs. It shows the information on the typical amount that could be spent on heating water, lighting and powering your home. The EPC also has information on potential savings that can be made if you improve the energy efficiency of your home.
This information may be displayed as a comparison chart. Energy costs of running electronic appliances like cookers, television sets, computers and others are not included in the EPC.
