EPC

Compulsory EPC

HIP suspension on 20 May 2010 means that a full home information pack is not required.  The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is still required as it falls under EU law; however you do not need to be in possession of the EPC when you put your house on the market.  To market your property you need only have commissioned an EPC. The lifespan of the certificates has been extended from three to ten years so a new one may not be required every time you move.  The EPC gives a rating between ‘A’ and ‘G’, where ‘A’ is the best and ‘G’ the worst; the current average is ‘D’.  This rating is based on information about insulation, boilers and the nature of light bulbs, for example, which are detailed with the EPC.

Although the lifespan of the EPC has been extended; we recommend that in future sellers consider a new EPC if they have made energy related modifications to the property, from light bulbs to insulation, as a better EPC will make your home more attractive as an efficient property to most buyers.  Mackenzie Smith are able to provide an EPC solution for all our clients irrespective of the type of property they are selling.  We can provide not only the EPC but also professional photography and floor plans to create enhanced brochures and online advertising.

Law Society press office (2010) Law Society insists on home buying reform in wake of HIPs axe. Law Society, 20^th May. Retrieved from: http://www.lawsocietymedia.org.uk/site.php?s=1&content=35&press_release_id=1289&mt=34 [Accessed 26 May 2010]

Estate Agent Today. 2010. EPCs to last ten years. Estate Agent Today, Retrieved from; http://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/News/Story/?storyid=3148&title=EPCs_to_last_ten_years&type=news_features [Accessed 27^th May 2010].