What is a Domestic EPC?
A domestic EPC (Energy performance Certificate) is a report which shows how energy efficient a domestic building is. A building is officially classified as ‘domestic’ when there is only one family living in it – regardless of whether it is a permanent residency or semi-permanent. All residential buildings must have had an EPC assessment carried out if it is to be rented out or sold.
​
A domestic EPC gives your home an energy efficiency rating of between A and G, with A being the most energy efficient that is possible and G being very poor. Having a good energy efficiency rating can be good for attracting buyers or tenants to your home as it means they will have reduced fuel costs in the future.
Do I need a Domestic EPC?
If you are planning on selling or renting out your residential property, it is a legal requirement to have a domestic EPC carried out. This has been the law since 2008 and it is designed to help potential buyers or tenants make an informed decision about buying or renting the property.
​
The domestic EPC not only gives information about the current state of the property’s energy efficiency, but will also include recommendations about how to improve it.
​
Landlords or sellers must apply for their domestic EPC before they put the property on the market or out to rent.
​
There are also some government grants which can be accessed to get funding towards energy saving measures, including the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) and the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund (GDHIF). For these grants, home owners will also need to have an EPC.
