Domestic Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)
What is an EPC?
Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) offer a clear, straightforward illustration of a home's energy efficiency. They play a crucial role within the Government's Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) regulations and are mandatory for all buildings - both domestic and non-domestic.
Whilst our primary business is providing EPCs for commercial property in London we are also fully qualified domestic EPC & retrofit assessors. This is ideal for discerning homeowners & landlords in and around the Capital seeking rapid certification with the option to investigate the benefits of a full retrofit - as well as those with mixed-use buildings seeking a 'one-stop-shop' for all their certification requirements.
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Following an EPC survey, homes are rated in the form of a colour-coded bar chart with a corresponding letter, ranging from 'A' the most efficient to 'G' the least efficient. The landlord receives a copy of the certificate and it is lodged on the publicly viewable government register. The EPC contains:
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Information about the homes' energy use and typical energy costs.
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A recommendation report with advice on improving energy efficiency and saving money.
When do you need a domestic EPC?
All domestic buildings must have a valid EPC upon construction, sale, or lease of the premises. In a few very specific circumstances it is possible to gain an exemption from EPC. Whilst EPCs are enforced by local authorities in practice it is more often the solicitors or estate agents acting in a property transaction that flag the necessity for a valid EPC as part of their due dilligence.
What happens if you dont have a valid EPC for your home?
In 2018 the regulatory baseline made it unlawful for landlords to lease dwellings with an EPC rating 'F' or 'G,' this also pertains to existing leaseholds and tenancies. If you are a residential landlord you risk:
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£200 fine per property if you fail to produce a valid EPC when requested.
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£5,000 fine if you let a dwelling with an EPC with a rating below 'E'.
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Not having a valid in-date EPC prevents you from issuing a Section 21 Eviction notice on tenants occupying the property in question.
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It is important to note that unlike commercial buildings there is no current minimum EPC rating requirement for a residential sale, whilst an EPC itself is still required it can be lower than 'E'. Although a low score is likely to have a negative effect on the sale price.
How will EPC regulations change in the future?
There is some confusion surrounding domestic EPC regulations over the next few years. The longstanding expectation was that domestic leases would move to a minimum EPC rating of 'C' in 2025. This target was arbitrarily scrapped in a much-criticised move by the government in September 2023. The new government, as of July 2024, has re-affirmed its commitment to EPCs and confirmed that the minimum EPC rating of 'C' will be in place for rented domestic properties by 2030, more detail as well as refreshed legislation regarding commercial EPCs is anticipated soon.
The Home Energy Model & The Future Homes Standard
The Future Homes Standard is due to be introduced in 2025 and is a major uplift to parts L and F of the building regulations and will ensure that new-build homes have low carbon heating and excellent levels of energy efficiency. Introduced alongside it will be The Home Energy Model which will be a change in the methodology currently used to calculate domestic EPCs away from the current SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure). We are keeping abreast of these developments to ensure a seamless transition in our service offering. It is hoped the new assessments will provide a far greater level of accuracy as well as fully recognising the many low carbon systems now entering the marketplace.
How long does a domestic EPC last?
EPCs remain legally valid for a period of 10 years from the date of lodgement, unless they are voluntarily updated with a new EPC often in the event of significant building refurbishment or extensions taking place.
How Haptic can help with your domestic EPC
Haptic EPC & Advisory specialises in rapid on-site surveys in and around London, we aim to inspect your property as soon as is convenient with reports completed within a few working days. We offer a premium same day EPC service for landlords in urgent need. We also provide practical advice to enhance energy efficiency of buildings.
The Domestic EPC Four-Step Process
Domestic EPC ratings explained from A to G
Domestic EPCs in London - our services
Introduction to Domestic EPCs in London
London leads the way for the property market nationwide and Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are becoming an ever more important metric by which we value a home. In the face of rising energy costs and legally mandated EPC-minimums in the buy-to-let sector you ignore them at your peril. We argue that by the end of the decade they will be as important as location and design have been in the past. As the city continues to grow, these certificates play a pivotal role in shaping a greener built environment. It is vital that building owners seek the best insights and guidance as they look to navigate this crucial aspect of what is all of ours' most important asset - our home.
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EPCs for mixed use buildings
The mixed use building is a common construction across the capital, from the humble 'flat above a shop' to vast developments which straddle substantial retail arcades with offices and penthouses above you really cant fail to notice them once you begin to look. Many of London's iconic 'named' towers house both households and household name businesses - The Shard, the 'Nose-trimmer' (St George's Wharf Tower) and the 'Boomerang' (One Blackfriars) are all mixed use developments.
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As a market-leader in commercial EPCs in London it became a logical extension to our service offering to be able to provide their domestic counterpart. In this way we can be a 'one-stop-shop' for landlords and asset managers who are seeking certification for whole blocks prior to sale or lease.
On-construction EPCs in London
New build homes require their own special variation of the domestic EPC known as an on-construction EPC, this is calculated off plan by the assessor using SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure) as opposed to the RdSAP (Reduced Data Standard Assessment Procedure) used for calulating EPCs for pre-existing homes. These assessments have a far higher degree of accuracy as the precise specifications of all of the materials used (Windows, walls, insulation etc.) are available to the assessor.
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An on-construction EPC is required before a new build home will be signed off by building control, before the building is complete it can be marketed with a PEA (Predicted Energy Assessment) which is essentially an estimate of the final EPC but must be checked upon completion in order to be validated.
EPCs for prime & super prime London property
Its no secret that London is a global hub for prime (£2m+) and super prime (£10m+) property, many london boroughs have become synonymous with high net worth individuals and their equally valuable homes. These buildings can often run into many thousands of square feet and include all manner of specialised suites, pools, cinemas and garages. In many cases they're more akin to many of the commercial buildings we deal with on a regular basis and this is where we bring our expertise to bear.
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In the same way these buildings warrant the attentions of the best architects and tradespeople they deserve to have their energy assessments carried out by experts too.
What are PAS2035 Retrofit and Trustmark?
First published in 2019 PAS 2035 is the British standard for retrofitting homes and governs every element of how a domestic retrofit is conceived, managed and delivered. Prior to the introduction of the standard systemic failures had been identified in British retrofit projects often leading to poor outcomes and even worsening the environmental safety of the very homes they were supposed to improve.
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The standard defines the roles of Retrofit advisor, assessor, coordinator, designer, installer and evaluator and established training programmes and formal qualifications for each role respectively. In the case of installers the Government established the Trustmark scheme with its own rigorous assessments and checks & balances to establish the highest levels of working knowledge and reliability.
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At Haptic we can take you through the entire retrofit process with a full compliment of fully qualified retrofit professionals.
