Q. Can you tell me more about EPC’s (Energy Performance Certificates) I’m not sure when and why I would require one and is it just if I want to rent my property or do I need one if I’m selling too?

A. You’ll need to supply an EPC whether you are selling or renting a property. An EPC is required when a building is constructed, rented or sold. A building will need an EPC if it has a roof and walls and uses energy to ‘condition an indoor climate’. This means it has heating, air conditioning or mechanical ventilation. For example, a garden shed would not need an EPC if it doesn’t have any heating. The building can either be a whole building or part of a building that has been designed or altered to be used separately. If a building is made up of separate units, each with its own heating system, each unit will need an EPC.

Which buildings don’t need an EPC

The following buildings don’t need an EPC when they are built, rented or sold:

  • places of worship
  • temporary buildings that will be used for less than two years
  • standalone buildings with total useful floor area of less than 50 meters squared that aren’t used to provide living accommodation for a single household
  • industrial sites, workshops and non-residential agricultural buildings that don’t use a lot of energy

Energy Performance Certificates – what they tell you

EPCs contain:

  • information on your home’s energy use and carbon dioxide emissions
  • a recommendation report with suggestions to reduce energy use and carbon dioxide emissions

Energy use and carbon dioxide emissions

EPCs carry ratings that compare the current energy efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions with potential figures that your home could achieve. Potential figures are calculated by estimating what the energy efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions would be if energy saving measures were put in place.

The rating measures the energy and carbon emission efficiency of your home using a grade from ‘A’ to ‘G’. An ‘A’ rating is the most efficient, while ‘G’ is the least efficient. The average efficiency grade to date is ‘D’. All homes are measured using the same calculations, so you can compare the energy efficiency of different properties.