EPC when selling

moreofthegoodstuff

An EPC was done on my property in May 2009, am I right that I don’t need to get another as long as it’s sold and exchange before then? I can’t find out for sure and the fine is too big to leave it!

s_glover

EPC certificates are valid for 10 years. So yours will expire in May 2019, after which you will need a new one.

eddddy

moreofthegoodstuff wrote: »

An EPC was done on my property in May 2009, am I right that I don’t need to get another as long as it’s sold and exchange before then? I can’t find out for sure and the fine is too big to leave it!

The Gov't advice makes it sound like the EPC only needs to be valid when you start marketing the property, and when you first show the EPC to a prospective buyer (see below).

But since you can get one for about £50, it's probably easier to just get one than to risk a potential court case to test the law.

Non compliance and penalty charges

A fixed penalty charge of £200 may be issued for failure to comply in the following circumstances:

• on sale or rent the seller or landlord failed to make a valid EPC available free of charge to the prospective buyer or tenant at the earliest opportunity or to the person who ultimately becomes the buyer or tenant

• on marketing the seller or landlord did not commission an EPC before the building was put on the market or the person acting on their behalf (i.e. estate or letting agent) did not ensure that an EPC was commissioned for the building

• the seller or landlord or a person acting on their behalf did not secure an EPC using all reasonable efforts within seven days of the building being put on the market. An EPC must be obtained 21 days after the initial seven day period

• the seller or landlord or a person acting on their behalf did not include the energy performance indicator in any advertisement of the sale or rental in commercial media

Link:A_guide_to_energy_performance_certificates_for_the _marketing__sale_and_let_of_dwellings.pdf

Badger51

If you put the property on the market before the 10th anniversary of the EPC you don't need a new one. However an expired or nearly expired certificate probably isn't much of a selling point. I think I would have new one done if only for that reason.

That said I sold my last house with a nearly expired EPC and it came to my rescue in proving that the boiler was installed more than 10 years before (which silenced the buyer's solicitor on the subject of a missing boiler installation certificate).