Domestic EPC - ‘Energy Performance Certificate’
 All you need to know
We provide Domestic EPCs to homeowners, landlords, estate agents, housing associations & solicitors.
We are not linked to any other commercial organisation and therefore offer completely independent and impartial advice.
Where do we do it?
Based in South West London our core area is Greater London and the South East.
For instructions outside this we are able to call on our network of fully qualified and accredited energy assessors throughout the UK.
Who can produce an EPC?
Only Domestic Energy Assessors (DEA’s), Commercial Energy Assessors (NDEA’s, Non-Domestic) and Display Energy Certificate Assessors (DEC’s) can legally produce an EPC.
Treadlighter’s Assessors are all fully qualified, insured and accredited. All relevant Codes of Practice also govern us.
How much does it cost?
Domestic EPCs cost £70 + vat.
For regular clients or those with multiple properties discounts are available.
What is an EPC?
The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) provides a standardised energy rating for a property / building.
Performance is rated in terms of its Energy Efficiency, based on energy use per square metre of floor area and it’s Environmental Impact based on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
The Energy Efficiency rating is a measure of the overall efficiency of a property. The higher the rating the more energy efficient the property is and the lower the fuel bills will be.
The Environmental Impact rating is a measure of a property’s impact on the environment in terms of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The higher the rating the less the impact it has on the environment.
The ratings are represented graphically on a scale from A to G, where A stands for the most efficient energy performance and G stands for the least efficient energy performance. Band A properties will have the lowest fuel bills.
The energy efficiency and environmental impact of the property will vary according to the property’s age, location, size and whether it has been insulated and is heated to modern standards. The average rating for a property in England and Wales is currently band D/E.
The EPC was a mandatory part of the Home Information Pack (HIP). Since 21 May 2010 a HIP is no longer required, but Sellers must still commission an EPC and an EPC is still compulsory for all rental properties in the UK.
Please see further Information for Landlords below.
When do I need one?
 Since 1 October 2008, all homes when built or sold require an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) by law. For rental properties, landlords must now provide an EPC when a property is let to a new tenant.
It is the responsibility of the Home Owner or Landlord selling or renting a property to have a valid EPC. It must be made available for inspection to prospective purchasers and tenants. A copy of the EPC must be given to the eventual buyer or tenant.
For sales or rental an EPC is valid for ten years. Please see our Information for Landlords below.
How do I get one?
All you have to do is Contact Us
We will need to make a site visit to undertake an Energy Assessment of your property or properties.
We’ll ask you a few questions about the property, confirm a price and if you are happy to proceed, we will confirm a convenient date and time for the site visit.
What happens next?
We will send you a confirmation email. This will confirm the date and time of the Site Visit for the assessment inspection together with the agreed total cost.
Please let us know at this stage if you need to rearrange.
 Please take a moment to read our 'Things to know before your assessment’ information which you can view or download here in PDF format.
It gives details on how the assessment will take place, what we will be inspecting and any conditions that might prevent the inspection from taking place.
It is important to notify us if any of these conditions exist prior to our arrival because you still might be charged for our visit if we can't complete the inspection!
If you do not hold an account with us, we will submit our invoice and payment will required before or at the time of inspection. Once payment has been received and the on-site assessment completed, you will be forwarded your EPC as a pdf via email.
How long does it take?
Depending on our current schedule and the availability of your property for an inspection. We are generally able to produce an Energy Performance Certificate within 12 – 24 hours. Our service standard turnaround time is 72 Hours.
 What do I get?
The Energy Performance Certificate is supplied electronically as PDF file. As such, you can print and distribute as many as you need (this helps us keep the costs down as well as helping the environment!).
We can of course provide a hard copy if you require one, however a small additional charge of £5 will be applicable to cover printing & postage.
Quality Control
In order to keep our service up to the highest standards, we might ask for your feedback following the completion of your instruction and safe receipt of your EPC. We like to continually monitor our performance and your comments will be much appreciated.
Treadlighter is accredited with Elmhurst Energy Systems and we're members of the Institute of Domestic Energy Assessors (IDEA).
Domestic EPC - Information for Landlords
Since 1 October 2008, Landlords need to provide an Energy Performance Certificate to prospective tenants whenever they offer a property for rental.
For rental properties an Energy Performance Certificate is valid for 10 years so it can be used on subsequent rentals within that period.
An EPC is not required (under current rules) while an existing tenant remains in the property provided it is
not marketed to other potential tenants. In practical terms, it is required on the first change of tenant.
If any changes to the thermal elements are carried out within that time a new report or an updated EPC will be required. If changes made to the thermal elements improve the efficiency of the property, it is in the landlord’s interest to update the EPC as the annual running costs will be reduced and hence the desirability of the rental increased!
Because of the long validity period many landlords are taking the opportunity to get an EPC done ahead of time so there is no delay in being able to start marketing if a tenant leaves. This makes particular sense if you have a number of flats in a single building.
Once the EPC has been prepared, we are also able to make recommendations on how to make the property more energy efficient thereby reducing its carbon emissions and saving money on future energy bills.
Discounts are available for multiple properties in the same location eg: A block of flats.
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