Frequently Asked Questions

The EPC looks broadly similar to the energy labels now provided with vehicles and many appliances. Its purpose is to indicate how energy efficient a building is. The certificate will provide an energy rating of the building from A to G, where A is very efficient and G is the least efficient. The better the rating, the more energy-efficient the building is, and the lower the fuel bills are likely to be. The energy performance of the building is shown as a Carbon Dioxide (CO2) based index.  
 
Each energy rating is based on the characteristics of the building itself and its services (such as heating and lighting). Hence this type of rating is known as an asset rating.  
 
The asset ratings will reflect considerations including the age and condition of the building. It is accompanied by a recommendation report, which provides recommendations on using the building more effectively, cost effective improvements to the building and other more expensive improvements which could enhance the building’s energy performance. 

An EPC for a non-dwelling will be valid for 10 years unless there has been a material changes in the fabric or services of the building or until it has been replaced with a newer one. 
 

In order to produce a Commercial Energy Performance Certificate (CEPC) it is first necessary for a qualified assessor to visit the premises. At Rushton EPC we employ our own surveyors who hold all of the necessary qualifications to enable them to produce commercial EPCs. Copies of these qualifications are available on request. 
 
The data gathered during the survey is then used to run the commercial EPC calculations using the government approved software. The total heat loss is worked out for all of the thermal elements of the premises and this is then combined with the efficiency of heating, lighting and air conditioning systems to work out the overall rating on the commercial EPC certificate. 
 
Once the CEPC is complete it can be retrived from the client login section of our website or a copy sent via email as a .pdf document and a hard copy can also be issued if needed. 
 
For more information on the Commercial EPC process feel free to call. 

An EPC is valid for 10 years and during this period you can provide the same EPC to prospective tenants as long as the EPC is still valid.  
 
The EPC will not be valid if the outgoing tenant has stripped out the services or their fixtures and fittings as part of a dilapidations claim. In this instance the original EPC will not represent the modified building and so will not be valid.

As long as a valid EPC exists for the building, you can provide this to prospective buyers. An EPC is valid for 10 years and during this period you can provide the same EPC to prospective buyers. This EPC will no longer be valid if a newer EPC has been registered. 

The relevant person has a duty to provide an EPC to a prospective buyer or tenant and will be liable to a penalty charge if he fails to do so, irrespective of whether the prospective buyer or tenant purports to waive an entitlement to receive the certificate.  

A valid EPC and recommendation report must be made available free of charge by the seller or landlord to a prospective buyer or tenant when non-dwellings are sold or let. This information should be provided at the earliest opportunity and no later than: 
 
when any written information about the building is provided in response to a request for information received from the prospective buyer or tenant; or 
 
when a viewing is conducted; or 
 
in any event, before entering into a contract to sell or let. 

If you can demonstrate the building is suitable for demolition and the resulting site is suitable for redevelopment and you believe on reasonable grounds that the prospective buyer or tenant intends to demolish the building, you do not need to provide an EPC.  
 
Generally this can be demonstrated by having the relevant planning permission or evidence that planning permission has been applied for. 

When a building being constructed is physically complete, it is the responsibility of the person carrying out the construction to give an EPC and recommendations report to the owner of the building and to notify Building Control that this has been done. Building Control will not issue a certificate of completion until they are satisfied this has been done. 
 
If a building is modified to have more or less parts than it originally had and the modification includes the provision or extension of fixed services for heating, air conditioning or mechanical ventilation (ie those services that condition the indoor climate for the benefits of the occupants) then an EPC will be required. When the modifications are physically complete, it is the responsibility of the person carrying out the modification works to give an EPC and recommendations report to the owner of the building and to notify Building Control that this has been done.  
 
Building Control will not issue a certificate of completion until they are satisfied this has been done. 

It is the responsibility of the seller or landlord offering the accommodation for sale or let to make an EPC available for their building.  
 
A lease assignment would be considered to be a sale or letting and the assignor should normally provide the EPC. The landlord’s obligations will generally be satisfied if the assignor provides the EPC to the assignee. 
 
The seller or landlord is responsible for ensuring there is an EPC for the building, or part of the building, being sold or let, even if an agent or another service organisation is acting on their behalf or providing an EPC. The seller or landlord should therefore ensure any agents acting on their behalf are complying with the Regulations.  

A Display Energy Certificate shows the energy performance of a building based on actual energy consumption as recorded annually over periods up to the last three years (the Operational Rating). The DEC also shows an Asset Rating for this building if this is available (by way of an EPC). A DEC is valid for one year and must be updated annually. 

The purpose of introducing Display Energy Certificates (DECs) is to raise public awareness of energy use and to inform visitors to public buildings about the energy use of a building. DECs provide an energy rating of the building from A to G, where A is very efficient and G is the least efficient and are based on the actual amount of metered energy used by the building over a period of 12 months. 
 
An affected organisation must display a DEC in a prominent place clearly visible to the public and have in its possession or control a valid advisory report. The advisory report contains recommendations for improving the energy performance of the building. 
 
The introduction of DECs will for the first time give publicly accessible information on the energy performance of public buildings. It is important not only that the public sector complies but that it is seen to be setting an example. Environmental performance is increasingly important to reputation. Accordingly if there is any doubt over whether a DEC is required, it would be good practice to produce a DEC in any event. 

A DEC and advisory report are required for buildings with a total useful floor area (see Glossary of terms for a definition) over 1,000m2 that are occupied in whole or part by public authorities and by institutions providing public services to a large number of persons and therefore frequently visited by those persons. 
 
Only buildings, with a total useful floor area greater than 1000m2, occupied either by a public authority or an institution providing a public service (referred to as relevant institutions) to large number of people and therefore frequently visited by those persons are affected by this legislation. 
 
Private organisations, including those that may share a building with a relevant institution, do not need to display a DEC, but may elect to do so on a voluntary basis. 

Under this legislation it is the responsibility of every occupier of a building affected by these Regulations to: 
 
Display a valid DEC in a prominent place clearly visible to the public at all times; and 
 
Have in their possession or control a valid advisory report which conveys recommendations to improve the building’s energy performance. 
This must be done for each of the buildings affected. 

No. The requirement is on the occupier to provide a DEC and as the occupier is a private company there is no requirement to display a DEC for the building. 

You will only need to have an EPC if you construct (including certain modifications), sell or let your building. If you do have an EPC for your building, the rating must be displayed on your DEC. 

You are under no obligation to act on the recommendations for energy improvements to the building. However, taking action on the recommendations is likely to improve the energy efficiency of your building, reduce your fuel bills, cut its carbon emissions and could improve public perception of your building. 

A domestic EPC is a document which gives your property an energy efficiency rating and is broadly similar to a commerical EPC.  
 
Its purpose is to record how energy efficient a property is as a building. The certificate will provide a rating of the energy efficiency and carbon emissions of a building from A to G, where A is very efficient and G is very inefficient.  
 
EPCs are produced using standard methods and standard assumptions about energy usage so that the energy efficiency of one building can be easily compared with another building of the same type. This allows prospective tenants to see information on the energy efficiency and carbon emissions from the building so they can consider energy efficiency and fuel costs as part of their investment. 
 
 
 
 

When buildings are to be rented out the landlord is responsible for ensuring a valid certificate is made available to all prospective tenants. The EPC and recommendations must be made available free of charge by a landlord to a prospective tenant at the earliest opportunity. 
 

EPCs are valid for 10 years and can be reused as many times as required within that period.  
 
It is not necessary to commission a new EPC each time there is a change of tenant unless there has been a material change (extension / loft conversion) in the building.  
 
If a newer EPC has been produced for a home within the ten year period, 
only the most recent one is valid. 
 
An EPC is not required for any property that was occupied before 1 October 2008 and which continues to be occupied after that date by the same tenant. 

The recommendations are for you (and your prospective buyer).  
 
You are under no obligation to act on the recommendations. However, taking action on the recommendations is likely to improve the energy efficiency of your property and reduce your fuel bills. 

An EPC is a compulsory document included in the Home Information Pack (HIP). Anyone putting up a home or for sale will need to commission a HIP which must include an Energy Performance Certificate. 
 
The EPC is a compulsory document included in a HIP which a seller must, by law provide when putting their property on the market. The EPC will show an energy efficiency rating for the energy performance of a home from A to G, where A is very efficient and G is very inefficient. This is similar to the ratings now displayed on sale for domestic appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines. The rating is based on factors such as age, property layout, construction, heating, lighting and insulation. Depending on the property the EPC will also be supported by recommendations to improve the energy efficiency of the dwelling. 

An EPC must be available to potential buyers when they view a property or receive any information regarding a property. The EPC itself will be available as part of the HIP when properties are viewed or any information is provided. The EPC must be no more than 3 years old when the property is put on the market. 

See Domestic Property – Rental.