However, an estate agent must order an Energy Performance Certificate before they can legally market the property if no valid EPC exists.

An EPC is valid for 10 years.

Once an EPC has been ordered, marketing can commence. However, the EPC must be obtained within 28 days of the date marketing commences.

Page & Wells use a leading provider of EPC’s to estate agents across England & Wales. They supply EPC’s via a comprehensive and simple-to-use, fully integrated system providing an online instruction and tracking service.

Our Provider is also able to provide floor plans.

An Energy Performance Certificate is in two parts.

• The first part of the certificate is a benchmarked measure, both of efficiency and environmental impact, of the home’s energy performance on a scale of A to G, where A is very efficient.
• The second part provides cost-effective recommendations for improving the energy performance of the home, information on renewable energy and recommendations on energy efficient behaviour.

The Need for an EPC

The requirement to produce an Energy Performance Certificate results from a European Directive that all member states have to implement.

Small increases to the energy efficiency in the millions of properties across Europe will result in a significant overall reduction in energy usage.

The Energy Performance Certificate is part of these new measures to improve property efficiency. It will include suggestions to enable property owners to improve the energy efficiency of the building. This can result in lower energy bills for the occupiers, and could make homes more attractive to potential purchasers.

• The Energy Performance Certificate is similar to the certificates now provided with domestic appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines.
• Its purpose is to record how energy-efficient a property is as a building.
• The certificates are commissioned by the seller (or their agent) from an accredited Domestic Energy Assessor, who visits the property to collect the relevant data and creates the certificate.
• This data includes the date, construction and location of the house and relevant fittings for example heating systems, insulation or double glazing.
• Energy Performance Certificates tell you how energy efficient a home is on a scale of A-G. The most efficient homes - which should have the lowest fuel bills - are in band A. The Certificate also tells you, on a scale of A-G, about the impact the home has on the environment. Better-rated homes should have less impact through carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
• The average property in the UK is in bands D-E for both ratings. The Certificate includes recommendations on ways to improve the home's energy efficiency to save you money and help the environment.
• Most sellers of newly built homes will have to provide a predicted assessment of the energy efficiency of the property, but a full Energy Performance Certificate should be provided to the buyer when the home is completed.

The certificate will also provide contact details for the Energy Savings Trust which can help you find out whether you could be eligible for grants or discounts to help carry out these improvements to your home. It will also list simple ways that changes in behaviour can save you energy and money - without the need for any works.

The Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA) will typically spend about one hour at the property, depending on size, and will collect data relating to the energy usage of the house.

The EPC is usually available to us within 24 hours of the DEA’s visit (excluding weekends).

The inspection is only visual with no disturbance to the fabric of your home. The EPC does not consider any appliances e.g. fridges, TVs or any light fittings that are plugged in. It also does not consider how you use the home. The EPC provides information based on a standard occupancy, a standard heating pattern and a generic locality.

The inspection and data collected will typically include the following:

• The year of property construction
• Walls and roof construction
• Any wall-cavity insulation
• Energy-saving "green" devices (such as solar panels, for instance)
• Number of double glazed windows and when installed
• Number of open or closed fireplaces
• Make and model of boiler and the type of flue and fuel used
• Number of low energy light-bulbs
• Type of heating system used and controls (wall thermostat etc...)
• Roof insulation and thickness
• The thickness of the hot water cylinder jacket or foam if present
• Check for excessive window area in larger houses and take measurements of conservatories and extensions
• Note the number of habitable rooms that are heated
• Measure the internal or external areas of the home
• Sketch and make notes relating to home and room layout

At this time it would be helpful to have available any information you may have about your home's heating, double glazing system and any refurbishment works that have added extra insulation because this can be used to help establish your property's energy rating.