Right time to get an EPC

startrim

I am going to get 2 or 3 valuations for my property and understand that I need t get an EPC before an estate agent can market my property.
Should I ask the agent to recommend someone or look for one myself. If I look for one myself what do I need to look out for, any certain letters after the name etc?

jonnydeppiwish!

If I’m buying a property, I don’t look at the EPC. Others do. The local EA can recommend but it’ll cost you the same in most places

startrim

I must admit I have not taken a lot of interest in the EPC of properties I have been interested in.
What sort of price does it cost?

saucer

Surprisingly cheap. I had one done for £60, including some communication afterwards.

anselld

EA don't do anything for nothing so it will cost you more for a recommendation.  Get one independently.  As above, £60 is the approx going rate.

MultiFuelBurner

Now that people are more energy conscious I must admit for the past two years the EPC score has been added to the property search list for us.

Cheaper to heat homes with high energy efficiency probably should command a premium. But most buy with their eyes and hearts.

Jonboy_1984

We had one done for £60 just before appointing an estate agent.

It emerged the EA would have done it for free as part of the listing process, but if we had later given them notice to use a different agent, then they would have potential billed us at their standard rate of around £120.

startrim

I was searching on google for someone to do the EPC and found a site where you can check if a property has a valid EPC and apparently mine does and it expires in November 2023. I have lived here for over 8 years.
I have not made any changes to the property. It was already double glazed and had a double layer of loft insulation.
Am I able to download the certificate from somewhere?

badger09

startrim said:

I was searching on google for someone to do the EPC and found a site where you can check if a property has a valid EPC and apparently mine does and it expires in November 2023. I have lived here for over 8 years.
I have not made any changes to the property. It was already double glazed and had a double layer of loft insulation.
Am I able to download the certificate from somewhere?

You don’t need to. If there is a valid cert already, the EA can obtain a copy. 

BUT, you might find your sale takes you past November, in which case you might need an up to date one. I’m not sure on the exact requirements, but I’ve seen properties advertised before EPC done. You should also be aware that an EPC done now, will almost certainly come out lower than one done nearly years ago unless you’ve made any improvements. 

jrawle

You can download the EPC for any property from here:
https://www.gov.uk/find-energy-certificate

Just tell the estate agents you are asking quotes from that you already have and EPC. No need to show it to them. (Then can check for themselves if they don't believe you.)

If you really haven't made changes to the property, there's no need for a new EPC. However, even if you have just replaced the light bulbs with low energy ones, this can have a surprisingly big impact on the rating, so it would be worth having a new one.

dimbo61

You need to provide a valid EPC in order to advertise a property  on Rightmove and all the other house selling websites.
So unless your going to sell it yourself you need to provide the current EPC to the estate agents.
I would spend £60 and get a new one done as it may we'll  take longer than 5 months to sell your home