HOW MUCH DOES AN EPC COST

If you’re thinking of selling your home or renting a property to tenants, you’ll need to have an Energy Performance Certificate before you’re able to market the property. As a legal requirement of the sales and rental process, you won’t be able to avoid the need to get a valid certificate, so it’s a good idea to include the EPC certificate cost in your budget now.

What is an EPC?

An EPC assesses the energy features within your property and tells potential buyers how energy efficient the home is. In order to produce an energy performance certificate, an Energy Assessor will evaluate the type of property you’re living in, its construction and its relevant fittings, such as insulation, double-glazing and heating system.

With this information, an Energy Assessor can determine how energy efficient the property is, and give it a rating from A-G. In addition to this, your EPC will also provide information about how you or potential new owners can improve the energy efficiency of the property.

How much does an EPC cost?

Many homeowners worry about the Energy Performance Certificate cost when they’re marketing their property, but it is something you will need to have in place before you can put your home on the market. Before you start looking at EPC price and cost options, however, it’s important to check whether your property already has a valid EPC certificate in place.

As an Energy Performance Certificate is usually valid for a period of 10 years, your property may still have an EPC if it’s been sold or rented within this timeframe. If so, you can use the valid EPC when you’re reselling the property, so you won’t need to worry about the EPC price or getting a new certificate.

If you don’t already have a valid EPC in place, you will need to use a registered Energy Assessor to obtain a new EPC. When it comes to the cost of the EPC certificate, there are a number of options available to you.

For example, there are various online firms which advertise cheap EPC certification for prices starting from £37. However, the price of an EPC from these companies can depend on the estimated value of your property, so the price may not always be as low as advertised and can sometimes end up being more expensive. Furthermore, obtaining an EPC from an online firm could take some time as you will have to wait for them to evaluate the property. As you won’t be able to market your property until you have a valid EPC in place, trying to reduce the cost of an Energy Performance Certificate by using a third-party provider may not be the best option.

Low-cost EPCs

Prior to marketing your property, your estate agents will be able to direct you to an appropriate Energy Assessor, so that you can obtain an EPC for your property. Usually, the cost of getting an EPC in this way is around £75-£120, but it does mean you can get your house or flat on the market straight away.

Energy Assessors who are used to working with estate agents typically understand the urgent nature of these certificates, so you may find that you’re able to obtain an EPC far more quickly by using a recommended Energy Assessor. With your home fully assessed and a valid EPC in place, you’ll be able to get your property on the market and begin the sales process.