LETTINGS
Energy Performance Certificate
Home Information Packs Abolished
On 21st May 2010 the new government suspended Home Information Packs (HIPs). They plan to abolish HIPs in the near future. One element of the HIP, the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is still required. The EPC is a European Directive to increase the energy efficiency of properties and try to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
This action is intended to encourage people thinking of putting their property on the market to go ahead with less cost and less hassle. HIPs typically cost £250 whereas EPCs are about £75. The government hopes that encouraging more properties to come onto the market will boost the market as a whole.
Energy Performance Certificate required
The Energy Performance Certificate is an assessment of the energy efficiency of a property. A qualified Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA) visits the property and assesses the heating, lighting, construction, insulation and dimensions. This data is input into a computer program that generates the rating and suggests recommendations for improvement (e.g. increase loft insulation). Energy efficiency is rated from “A” (highest) to “G” (lowest). Properties with higher ratings will have lower energy bills.
What do I need to do?
When you have decided to put your property on the market for sale then you must commission an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). As long as the EPC has been commissioned then we can market the property. At ACJ we can organise everything for you and we have an in-house energy assessor to conduct the EPC.
Comments
HIPs have generally been seen by our industry as unnecessary and unhelpful. Sellers have been reluctant to put their properties on the market because they have to pay hundreds of pounds upfront regardless of securing a sale. We believe that abolishing HIPs will have a positive affect on the property market.