About Energy Performance Certificates

The EPC is similar to the energy efficiency ratings that are available for electrical white goods. It informs a prospective buyer or tenant about the energy efficiency of a building, so that they can make an informed decision before they enter into a contract to buy or rent it.

The main colour chart section shows the actual performance of the building. The software which the assessor uses generates effectively 3 models of the same building. The first is the actual building that has been surveyed, and its performance is the one that is shown in the colour code. The other 2 buildings that are generated by the models are of an equivalent building, built to 1995 Building Regulations (the typical Benchmark figure) and one built to modern Building Regulations.

The actual value shown is therefore a benchmark of different build standards of the same building, and a level of CO2 emissions each would produce. EPC’s can only be issued by qualified and accredited assessors. The assessor will visit the property to carry out the survey. This will last anything from 2 hours up to days or even weeks depending on the size and complexity of the building.

A Certificate and Recommendation Report (RR) will then be issued. Each of these carries a unique 20 digit reference number which can be used by any member of the public to download the EPC and RR for a property from the Landmark website for future reference.

The Recommendation Report issued gives information about ways that the efficiency of the building can be improved. There is no requirement for the landlord or owner to implement these recommendations, but in many cases it makes good economic and environmental sense to target the most effective ones.

Once issued the certificate is valid for up to 10 years.