EPC for property for sale

Eccle_2

We've just had a letter from our estate agent to say that we have to have an EPC done on our property by 1st October. They're offering to arrange one for us for £115 but I can find places that will do them far quicker from a brief search on the net. Is there anything to stop us getting one done direct ourselves and just passing it on to them? And if we do it ourselves, is there anything we need to check on the qualifications of the company before we get it done?

Thanks

Jorgan_2

You can do it yourselves, in fact the law states that it is the responsibility of the seller to provide it, not the estate agent. £115 seems a bit on the steep side, the assessor we use is only charging £55. Have a look here to find an assessor in your area- https://www.hcrregister.com/searchAssessor.html

ginvzt

If you are selling the house, you should get a HIP, and that will include the EPC.

dekh

When did your property go on the market? If it's new to the market you need a HIP. If it went on the market before a HIP was required then you don't need a HIP or an EPC which is a fundamental part of a HIP.

Or has the law changed?

It would mean your property has been on the market for a year now not a good thing to be advertising.

Eccle_2

Thanks everyone. We've been on the market since before a HIP was required, but there seems to be a change coming in which means we need the EPC regardless of when we went on the market after 1st Oct. I guess it's a point that our lack of HIP makes it obvious how long we've been on the market, but I'm not sure how obvious it is to buyers whether a house has a HIP or not?

jimc_2

dekh wrote: »

Or has the law changed?

Io

Good point! The law hasn't actually changed. It's just that 'phased introduction' of HIPs and EPCs have got out of sync.

The EPC is only accidentally a part of a HIP. The EPC is a European thing and only required to be introduced amongst EEC members next year BUT the government thought it would be cool to wrap it up in the HIP regulations that were already going through parliament. This would both slip it through unnoticed and replace some meaning to the HIP which had just lost its main selling point - the seller-funded survey - the HCR (Home Condition Report).

Because they are actually mandated by different regulations, they have come a bit unstuck!

HIPs (requiring an EPC) were 'phased' and there are still exempt properties on sale. The EPC is separately required by the EEC for ALL properties on sale by next year. (Before the knowledgeable start shouting I know the 'ALL' is not strictly true but let's keep it simple for now! Best for most sellers to presume they are affected.) The government in their wisdom (and presuming the HIPs regulations would have already taken care of the mandatory introduction by then) decided to make the UK date October 1st 2008 to make us the good (green) guys of Europe.

Thus the strange situation - most properties on sale need a HIP. A HIP includes an EPC. Some properties are still on sale that don't need a HIP but will need an EPC if they remain on sale by October 1st!

Don't even ask about whether it's required if a sale is in progress!