The answer to this question is provided here by epc4less. Epc4less is the most established provider of Energy Performance Certificates in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
When selling a house, it’s only natural that you want to get the best possible price you can for it. With so much paperwork to go through, the Energy Performance Certificate might be one that’s never occurred to you before. So how much of an effect does the EPC really have?
What is an EPC?
Energy Performance Certificates were first introduced in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 2008, to present accurate representations of how energy efficient different properties are. This is especially important where the housing stock can be hundreds of years old, and energy efficiency varies so massively. EPC Belfast are required by Northern Ireland law every time a property is sold or rented.
An EPC gives the property a number of points between 0-100, which equates to a rating between an A (highest) and a G (lowest).
What does an EPC survey involve?
If you have a standard domestic property with less than 4 bedrooms, the initial EPC visit should take no longer than 30 minutes. A lot of Domestic Energy Assessors in Belfast will offer 24-hour turnaround on their EPC paperwork, meaning you could get the appropriate energy performance certificate officially lodged within a day.
The visit itself involves gathering information about various aspects of the property. This includes the boiler, the home insulation, the glazing in the windows, the central heating system and hot water tank. The assessor will make a rudimentary floorplan and take pictures as they work, in order to provide the evidence necessary to lodge the certificate.
EPC surveys are non-invasive. That means that if you have loft insulation, for example, the surveyor must be able to easily get up there to see in order to lodge it. They cannot take your word for it, and they can’t make boreholes to check for cavity wall insulation or cause any damage. If you have any work that you think should be included on the EPC that the assessor will not be able to easily see or access, paperwork like invoices or warranties can be used to prove the existence of it and get it included on the survey.
Will the EPC rating affect my house price?
The answer to that is No. Most people who are looking to buy a house use different criteria in their decision making process. For example, if they like the area, or if they like the style or interior of the property, then the EPC rating will have no impact in their decision.
A good EPC may improve how attractive your home is to some buyers who are energy or money conscious. This is because energy efficiency means lower CO2 emissions and low energy bills. Based on our experience as energy assessors in Belfast, Northern Ireland, a very small minority of buyers think like that.
Will a EPC low rating affect the saleability of my house?
Our company has assessed over 10,000 in the last 12 years. A low EPC rating has never affected the saleability of a house.
How to book epc4less for your EPC survey in Belfast
If you property is in and around Belfast and you wish to book epc4less for your Energy Performance survey you can contact them via their website epc4less.com