Informed Landlords Glossary: EPC

EPC’s give information to the perspective tenant regarding the amount it will cost to run a house, in the form of energy use, such as gas and electricity.

EPC’s are now a legal requirement for all properties that are being rented out, and as landlords you must ensure these EPC’s are formulated by an accredited assessor who will use an approved formula to assess the energy performance of a building.

The assessor will give their report to the landlord with the rating on it and some recommendations on improving the performance via remedial works, such as insulation, double glazing and more efficient heating means. These recommendations are NOT a legal requirement, they just officially recognise how a building could be enhanced or improved.

The landlord must, by law, give this assessment to the tenant, prior to any official tenancy being signed. Failure to do so can incur a fine and cause future problems to the landlord.