Energy saving

With effect from 1st April 2018 landlords of domestic private rented properties may not grant a tenancy to new or existing tenancies if their property has an EPC rating of band F or G. From 1st April 2020 landlords must not continue to let a relevant domestic property which is already let if that property has an EPC rating of band F or G.

The EPC gives prospective purchasers/tenants an easy-to-read guide to the likely energy costs (bills) when occupying and running the property. Each property is given a rating on its efficiency and environmental impact and provides recommendations to the owners for improvements that can save money on energy bills.

EPCs are now valid for 10 years on both lettings and residential sales properties.

EPC Exemptions

 Mixed use properties are defined as properties intended for occupation by a single household but having a mixed domestic and non-domestic use: e.g. shop with living accommodation and having common utility meters and entrance.

Temporary Buildings (static caravans/mobile homes), Places of Worship, Holiday Lets that are only available for less than four months of the year

Multi residential buildings are classed as commercial buildings: e.g. sheltered housing schemes, nursing homes and hotels.

A commercial energy performance certificate works in much the same way as a residential EPC, assessing properties on factors such as the type of construction, the degree of insulation and types of heating systems they have. Once all this has been considered an efficiency rating is given along with advice on how to improve a building's rating. This can lead to significant savings for commercial property owners.

All commercial buildings in the UK are required by law to have a commercial energy performance certificate (or commercial EPC). This document acts as a provable measure of a building's energy efficiency, providing a rating which indicates its impact on the environment and lasts for 10 years.

Commercial buildings are more varied and therefore are price structured differently from residential.

Please contact us today to discuss your requirements.

Including a floor plan into your product particulars will enhance the saleability of your property.
We use a professional and concise software package which includes detailed descriptions of all rooms, dimensions and appliance locations and will give the prospective buyer(s) a further insight into the layout of your property.

Inventory
Every property should have an inventory whether letting as furnished or unfurnished.
Even though they are not compulsory with tenancy deposit schemes, in practice they are essential and should even be considered for best practice if not taking a deposit. Inventories work in two ways, a list of items included in the tenancy (e.g. curtains, blinds etc) along with their condition and any existing defects at the beginning of the tenancy will need to be set out.
There are three stages to our service. We will make an inventory/condition schedule, give a check-in inspection and do a check-out inspection. These are three vital documents that a landlord should have for each property.
All properties are digitally photographed and written paperwork dated and should be signed by the current tenant before proceeding with the tenancy agreement. Please contact us for further details and pricing.

Inspections
It is possible that properties can sit void for a period after the tenancy agreement has expired. We offer a regular internal/external inspection to make the sure the property is secure and there is no visual damage this allowing for agents/landlords to have unnecessary visits out of their office time.

Our dynamic building modelling service utilises a software simulation package (DesignBuilder) that creates a 3-dimensional model of a building and allows its performance across a range of environmental parameters to be accurately modelled, based on detailed design information. These parameters include:

• Year-round internal thermal comfort criteria
• Summertime overheating (compared with building regulations or specific building type requirements, e.g. healthcare or education)
• Predicting energy demand across different systems and design options uses
• Daylight analysis and daylight factors
• Solar gain and shading analysis - to determine the optimal solution
• Calculation of CO2 emissions and savings for different design options

Modelling should be undertaken at an early stage in the design process. This allows scope for architects and design teams to make informed decisions and ensure that the building design meets its performance requirements in the most cost effective and environmentally preferable way, reducing energy demand, maintenance requirements, carbon emissions ensuring that building users have a high-quality internal environment.

Our expert advice means we can ensure your building passes Building Regulations Part L and achieves the required EPC rating!