Energy Performance Certificates (EPC);
Commercial Energy Performance Certificates.
Please read on for further details:
What is a Home Information Pack?
The Home Information Pack (sometimes referred to as 'Home Sellers Pack') was designed with two purposes in mind:
To improve the home buying and selling experience for consumers - Approximately 30% of property sales in the UK fall through prior to completion. By providing as much information as possible about a property as early as possible in the sale process, it is hoped that transactions will become easier, faster and far less likely to collapse. The additional, no cost, services that we provide allows us to speed up the process even further than other pack providers.
There are two types of document required in a HIP - Mandatory and Authorised. As the name suggests, Mandatory documents must be included in your Home Information Pack in order for it to meet legal requirements. These documents are:
- An Index
- A Sale Statement
- An Energy Performance Certificate
- Evidence of Title
- A Local Authority Search
- A Water and Drainage Search
Authorised documents include much of the information that your Solicitor will require in order to carry out your conveyancing. Providing them in your HIP will help to reduce the time it takes to exchange contracts once a sale is agreed. Examples include:
- Home Use Form (providing details of the services to, and other aspects about the property)
- Home Information Form (fixtures and fittings to be included, or otherwise, in the sale)
- Completion Certificates or Gaurantees for any work completed on the property
- Home Condition Report
- Additional Searches, such as environmental or mining searches
What Is An Energy Performance Certificate?
Energy Performcance Certificates (EPC) provide information regarding a building's current and potential energy rating, from both a financial and an environmental standpoint. The current rating is based on the results of an energy survey, carried out by a licensed Energy Assessor, who collects data regarding how the property was constructed and the methods used to provide heat and light to the house. This data is then used to calculate the likely cost of providing the energy required for these functions and the environmental impact they will have.
The potential energy rating is then calculated by considering how the property could be made more efficient in its energy use and calculating the financial and environmental benefits that would result from making these improvements. These ratings are provided on a scale of A to G, similar to that found on all new fridges, washing machines and other white goods:
The EPC then goes on to provide a breakdown of the property's likely annual energy use, carbon dioxide emissions (in tonnes) and fuel bills, both before and after it's recommendations have been carried out. This element of the certificate demonstrates in real terms, the savings that can be made to a household's fuel bills. In many cases these savings can amount to hundreds of pounds (£) each year, which can represent several tonnes of carbon dioxide being emitted into the atmosphere.
After giving a summary of the main energy performance features of the property, the EPC then goes on to make recommendations about how the home can be improved and the savings that each of these improvements will make to the annual fuel bill.
Background Information
Many people are familiar with the concept that producing energy using traditional forms of fuel like oil, gas and coal produces Carbon Dioxide which, when released into the atmosphere, creates a greenhouse effect, increasing the Earth's temperature and seriously harming our environment. Significant steps have been made to reduce this problem, including the introduction of energy ratings on 'white goods', recycling programs and reduced taxation of fuel efficient cars etc.
Something that is less well known is the fact that our homes account for about 27% of the UK's carbon emissions, whilst buildings in general are responsible for almost 50% of all the energy consumed in the UK. Any attempt to reduce our carbon dioxide emmissions must therefore include measures to reduce these figures.
In 2003 the European Union published the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) with the objective of 'promoting the improvement of energy performance of buildings within the Community'. Each EU member state was given until the start of 2006 to transpose the directive into law, with a further 3 years being allowed for implementation.
The UK Government's response was to introduce Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) in order to assess the energy performance of buildings and promote improvement to that performance, thereby reducing the negative impact our homes have on the environment. It was decided that EPCs should be issued to houses whenever they are sold and are therefore a critical part of the Home Information Pack (HIP) that has been introduced in order to ease the house buying process.
By the end of 2008 similar energy ratings will be introduced for public and commercial buildings and for homes that are marketed for rental.
What Is A Commercial Energy Performance Certificate?
Commercial EPCs, along with their accompanying Recommendation Report, provide ratings and guidance on how to improve the energy performance of commercial buildings. The European Union's Energy Performance of Buildings Directive requires that all buildings must have an EPC available for prospective purchasers or tenants prior to them being sold or let. Since 1st October 2008 this ruling has applied to almost all commercial buildings, as well as domestic properties.
The seller or landlord of a commercial property is responsible for providing an Energy Performance Certificate prior to marketing, or exchange of contracts if no marketing takes place. Fines for failure to provide one can be up to £5,000 for each case, after which an EPC must still be provided. It is therefore very important to take this responsibility seriously. The more information we have, the more accurately we will be able to quote for you. Please email requests to simon@hipmatters.com.
If you require a commercial EPC, please let us know:
