EPCs in Belfast, Northern Ireland Advice

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EPCs in Belfast, Northern Ireland – All You Need to Know

5 Mar 2020

Energy Performance Certificates have been legally required in Northern Ireland since July 2008 and if you do not have an EPC you can be fined £200.

EPCs in Belfast, Northern Ireland houses

1) Who needs an Energy Performance Certificate?

If you live in Belfast, Northern Ireland, it is important that you get an EPC if you are looking to rent out your home or put it up for sale. If you are selling a home, it is important to have information on your property’s typical energy usage and it is your responsibility to arrange an EPC to be carried out.

2) Who can carry out an EPC?

An EPC needs to be carried out by an accredited domestic energy assessor. These can either be found by looking online (search epc Belfast) to compare prices or your estate agent or letting agent may offer you this service. It is important that you compare the prices of this service to make sure you are getting a good deal and it is essential to ensure that the EPC is being carried out by an accredited assessor, so it can be a good idea to check their accreditation.

3) What information is displayed on an EPC?

The EPC is a certificate that gives you information on energy usage in your home. It is similar to a multi-colored sticker that you may find on some household appliances. The graph on the EPC will show you the current energy efficiency of your home. You will see an arrow with your energy efficiency rating score, showing your current score and your potential score. You will also be given a summary of the home’s performance-related features, each element will be given an energy efficiency rating out of 5 stars for different features such as walls, the roof, the floor, windows, and main heating.

Energy efficiency rating

First of all, you will be given an energy efficiency rating, graded from A to G. A rating of A is likely given to a well-insulated and energy-efficient home, whereas a G rating is likely to be given to an older building that lacks these features. For context, the average energy efficiency of a home in the UK is a band D, with a rating of 60 out of 100. This energy rating gives you an idea of how energy-efficient your home is on a 0-100 rating system. Landlords are required to have an energy efficiency rating of E or above to rent or they may be set back with a fine.

Estimated cost of running your home

The EPC will give you useful information on the running costs of your home. It will give you information on how potential savings can be made and how to improve your energy efficiency rating. You will be given information on the current and potential costs of lighting, gas or oil heating and hot water. It is given based on what an average household might spend at your given energy rating. It does not include information on appliances such as TV’s, computers and cookers.

Comments on this guide to EPCs in Belfast, Northern Irelandarticle are welcome.

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