Q Why do I need an Energy Performance Certificate for my rented property now?

A It's a legal requirement, in England and Wales, that a landlord must be able to show a valid EPC to all new tenants after 1st October 2008.

Q How long does an EPC last, or how long is an epc valid?

A For the rental market, each EPC lasts for 10 years. If the EPC is part of a HIP then it needs to be less than 3 years old for the HIP to be valid.

Q If I'm selling a property and possibly renting the property at the same time, do I need a second EPC and how long does the EPC last?

A HIP (England and Wales) requires a valid EPC and an EPC is required for new tenants after 1st October. The EPC is valid for the time the property is up for sale. If you decide not to sell but to rent - then the EPC will be valid for 10 years from date of issue. On 9th September 2008 changes were made to HIPs and EPCs of less than 3 years old can be used as part of a HIP (home information pack).

Q When should I instruct to get the survey done?

A Allow 14 days before you market your property

"A seller, landlord, or head-leasee should make a proper request to a provider for an EPC in good time and at least 14 days before it is required to avoid any penalty charges."
The full document can be downloaded from the CLG EPBD website at
www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/epcrequirements

Q How much does an EPC cost?

A Costs vary, but our costs are fixed and are inclusive with no VAT to pay.

Q How long does it take to get the energy performance certificate?

A Once the survey of the property is under way - this can last from 1 to 2 hours - the data is entered into a secure database. This produces the certificate, which can be emailed in PDF format. So around 24 hours at most.

If required, we can produce a colour hardcopy which could be laminated - please ask for details.

For more information why try these selected external links on the further reading tab.