NEW! Book your EPCs with Viewber
Viewber is delighted to add Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) energy assessments to its suite of property services. We now have a number of accredited, fully-trained domestic energy assessors within our network of highly-professional, vetted Viewbers. Estate and letting agents, property managers, social and private landlords, and auctioneers are now able to book Viewbers who will create a valid EPC.
Our new EPC service is in anticipation of changes to Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES), which may take effect in the lettings sector as soon as 2025. Our capacity will allow owners and managers of privately rented properties to establish what their current EPC rating is and what might be required to improve the rating, before performing a reassessment after energy efficient improvement works are complete.
~ What you can expect from Viewber
Property professionals and private individuals can book a Viewber to perform a domestic energy assessment that will yield a valid, ten-year EPC. Book with 24-hours’ notice and an energy assessor will visit any UK property. Once the Viewber has submitted their analysis and findings, the EPC certificate will be available almost immediately.
~ A brief history of MEES & EPCs
It was only in 2007 that MEES become a big deal in property. An EPC formed part of the divisive Home Information Pack (HIP) but while the rest of the HIP requirements were scrapped in 2010, the requirement for all properties being sold to have an EPC was retained. In addition to the sales market legislation, all rental properties required an EPC from 2008.
What followed was a burgeoning service sector, with an increasing need for energy assessors to visit properties prior to a sale. This demand grew again as on 1st April 2018, when all new and renewing tenancies in England and Wales were required to have an EPC of E or above – making lets with an EPC of F or G illegal. This new requirement was extended to all tenancies in 2020.
A glut of eco upgrades in buy-to-lets ensued, followed by thousands of landlords booking energy re-assessments in hope their properties would achieve a new EPC rating of E or higher.
~ Rush for new EPC assessments predicted
Demand is set to swell again as the Government has proposed that MEES attached to privately rented properties tightens. It wants all new and renewing tenancies in England and Wales to have an EPC of at least a C by 2025 but this deadline may move to 2028. As a minimum, the Government wants all private rented homes, by law, to have an EPC of at least C in 2028.
Despite widespread coverage of changes to energy efficiency in privately rented properties, recent research suggests not all landlords are knowledgeable on the matter. While 86% of property investors taking part in a study conducted by Mortgage Advice Bureau knew what their property’s EPC rating was, 47% thought plans around EPC ratings was ‘guidance and not regulatory’. Shockingly, 18% were not aware of changes to MEES at all.
~ Don’t get caught out by an invalid EPC
One of the most overlooked aspects of EPCs is their validity. They only have a shelf of 10 years so landlords, sellers and their associated agents need to check if the current certificate is in date. Landlords are especially vulnerable if their EPC has expired.
The first problem can arise when a landlord tries to regain possession of a property where the tenancy started on or after 1st October 2015 using a Section 21 notice. Under The Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012, landlords must give a copy of a valid EPC to the tenant before a Section 21 notice is served. If the landlord fails to provide this, the tenant has a defence to court proceedings and the repossession can fail.
~ New tenancies need an in-date EPC
Secondly, a landlord whose EPC expires during a tenancy is obliged to get a new one when they market the property to new tenants. It’s worth noting that the EPC rating at the end of the tenancy may not be the same as the one at the start as it is possible for ratings to slip. Energy efficiency upgrades – and a reassessment – may be required before any marketing to new renters takes place.
~ No EPC? No sale
Finally, a homeowner who has lived in the same home for more than 10 years will find their initial EPC has expired, unless they have had a reassessment during their time in the property. These sellers will need to renew their EPC before their property can be listed on the open market.
Currently, the penalty for not having a valid EPC is £5,000 but under Government proposals, this will rise to £30,000 from 2028.
If you’re new to Viewber and would like to know more about our EPC offering and other property visit services, please contact the team today. For existing Viewber users, you can now book an EPC through your online dashboard but contact us if you need support.
