What is an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)?

Energy Performance Certificates (EPC’s) will inform the buyers and sellers how energy efficient a home is on a scale of A-G. The most efficient homes – which should have the lowest fuel bills – are in band A.

The Certificate will also tell you on a scale of A-G, about the impact the home has on the environment. It will recommend various improvements that could be made to cut fuel bills and carbon emissions, the cost of doing this and how quickly these will be recouped through reduced spending on energy for each property that is assessed.

The EPC is prepared by a Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA) or a Home Inspector (HI), all of which have been trained and are licensed via a Government Certification Scheme.

What is a Home Condition Report (HCR)?

 A Home Condition Report contains information about the physical condition of the property. An HCR is a voluntary document, and for the average property will cost approximately £200 - £250 on top of the required documents.

A Home Condition Report should be considered in the following situations:

• A property is in good condition: Using an HCR will show potential purchasers that there are no hidden problems.
• The property is in better condition than others in the area, or has significant features that will help the vendor achieve a better price.
• The property needs work in some areas. The HCR will identify and highlight these in an objective way, with potential costs involved to put the work right, thereby stopping purchasers trying to drive down the price by over exaggerating the costs involved.

The Conveyancing Report Agency can supply you with an HCR or EPC through our network of national and regional suppliers.