What to expect at an EPC appointment
So you’ve booked an EPC, what do you need to know? Most people don’t do any groundwork before an EPC assessor arrives but a bit of planning to can actually help improve your rating.
An EPC appointment typically takes around 1-2 hours depending on the size of the property. We will usually have done some prior research to ascertain the age band of your property as well as some other factors.
Asessors will need to take a picture of your property from all sides, so make sure access is available via garden gates etc. We will also need to inspect the loft space to measure insulation levels, we will have a ladder, but make sure the loft is accessible if possible. We will need to see your boiler and radiators, so make sure they are all visible. If you have a programmable thermostat, make sure it’s available as it makes a difference to the rating. We will also need to see both electricity and gas meters (if present).
Remember that a Domestic Energy Assessor is not supposed to move anything, so if access to any of the above is blocked, it could affect your certificate.
Many of the factors in an EPC are based on assumptions, which are drawn from the recorded building regulation standards at the date for which the property (or extension) was constructed. For this reason it is important to get this right and you can help the assessor by providing any paperwork you may have.
Here’s a list of helpful paperwork:
Documentary evidence of build dates for any extensions (especially loft extensions) - e.g. building regulations sign off
FENSA certificates for any windows that have been replaced
Title deeds showing when the property was originally constructed
Insulation certificates (cavity wall, loft etc)
MCS certificate for any solar PV installations
Technical specifications for any solar water heating
Once the assessment is finished the EPC will be lodged to the central register, unless you have requested that it is not, in which case we can send you an energy report instead.
We are very happy to explain all of the factors and details for any EPC we carry out, so don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions after the assessment has taken place.