What Is The Purpose Of An EPC?

Environmental Commitments

The UK government has committed to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. Net zero means any emissions would be balanced by schemes to offset an equivalent amount of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, such as planting trees or using technology like carbon capture and storage.

Approx. 40% of greenhouse gases in the UK are created through power generation for domestic use. That includes approx. 2.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere each year, per household, just from heating our homes. Improving the energy efficiency of the UK housing stock is therefore essential to achieving our environmental commitments.

Approx. 20% of the UK population live in privately rented properties and a further 17% live in council rented properties. MEES legislation means that over time all rented properties that are below the minimum standard of E on the Energy Efficiency Rating scale will be improved if landlords wish to keep renting these properties.

Reduce ‘Fuel Poverty

Tenants generally pay the bills for the property they live in and a more energy efficient property means lower bills. Rented properties are generally less energy efficient than privately owned properties therefore on average tenants have higher energy bills than home owners. Many people rent properties because they cant afford to buy and higher energy bills mean they are less likely to be able to afford to buy.

Fuel poverty is measured as a household that spends 10% or more of their income on heating costs.

Knowledge

To provide a prospective tenant or buyer with detailed information about the property they are considering renting or buying, to help them make an informed decision as to whether they believe the property is suitable for them. An EPC includes estimated energy costs for an average household (costs for lighting, heating and hot water) based on the characteristics and features in the property assessed. The EPC includes recommended measures to improve the energy efficiency of the property and the indicative costs and typical annual savings if the recommended measures are implemented.

Housing Standards

To improve the overall standard of the UK’s housing stock, in particular rental properties. By providing insight into a properties energy efficiency and the features of a property that positively or negatively impact this efficiency, and by implementing Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards, the overall standard of the housing stock across the UK will improve as individual properties are improved to meet the minimum standards.