An EPC certificate is a legal document that landlords have to invest in. It is a guide that the potential buyers and tenants look at when they are looking to buy or rent a property. It is an important document that plays a huge role in people’s decision to rent or buy a property.
The certificate tells the extent of energy efficiency of the building. It rates the building in terms of its energy efficiency and gives an estimated cost of the property. It identifies the shortcomings of the property and gives suggestions on how to improve energy efficiency.
There are a lot of services offering the certificates so with a little research you can find cheap EPC certificate London services that will be able to provide the document at an affordable cost. It is important that you understand the contents of the certificate so you can read and comprehend it.
Here are a few important things to look for so you can enjoy its benefits.
The Primary Graphics Rating:
All the contents of the certificate are important as they convey valuable information. The primary rating graph showcases the energy efficiency of the property. The efficiency is showcased with the help of a colored scale that ranges from A to G.
The A in the dark green is for the most efficient and the G in red is used for the least efficient properties. The letters are also assigned numbers and the numbers start from 1 and go up to 100. There are two arrows present on the graph as well. One arrow is for the current energy efficiency of the property and the other indicates the potential rating that a property can reach with proper energy efficient techniques.
The Estimated Costs:
After the graph, the certificate includes a table of estimated costs. The estimated cost is calculated by considering the size of the house. It is possible for two houses to have the same energy rating but different estimated energy cost because of the size difference. The first column mentions the categories like lighting, heating, hot water, etc. The second column is for current cost of energy consumption while the third column gives the potential costs that you can achieve with energy efficient practices.
The Issuing Date:
The EPC is only valid for ten years so you need to make sure that you check the date the certificate is issued. If the property has undergone any energy efficient upgrades after the certificate is issued then you will have to upgrade it because the upgrades can make a difference in the energy rating of the property.
Top Green Suggestions:
The certificate includes the top three green wins that are formally described as the recommended measures. The green wins are mentioned along with the estimated cost. It also mentions potential generated savings.
Recommended Measures:
The certificate gives recommended measures along with potential generated savings and estimated costs. It will give you an idea of the energy efficient upgrades that you should invest in so that you can improve the energy efficiency.
Alternative Measures:
The certificate also gives alternative measures that can help in improving energy efficiency and saving money on energy bills. The measures suggested are tailored according to the specifications of the property.
The certificate also includes the contact information of the experts that carry the assessment to provide an EPC.
