The information contained within the Energy Performance Certificate enables buyers and sellers to get A-G ratings on their homes similar to fridge ratings as well as a list of practical measures to cut their fuel bills and carbon emissions at the same time. The EPC is mandatory for sellers and landlords and is valid for 10 years. An EPC must have been commissioned at the point of marketing and be available within 28 days of this date.
The recommendations contained within the EPC are designed to reduce energy consumption and lower carbon emissions. Using less energy to heat and light your home means lower fuel bills. It's as simple as that. Grants of up to 100% of the cost of installing energy efficient measures are available for those people on certain benefits. To find out more information and advice on how you can be more energy efficient in your home and whether you are eligible for a government funded grant, visit the sites below by clicking on the pictures.
The Home Condition Survey is an objective report on the condition of the property on the date it was inspected. Unlike a traditional Homebuyers survey, the report is in a standard format using plain English and gives 'condition ratings’ to the major parts of the main building.
The main purpose of the report is to assess the property’s overall condition and functionality and to highlight any defects in the property that would be considered desirable or prudent to rectify or that may be hazardous to health and safety. It identifies any matters that require further investigation but minor defects that would not normally affect the sale of a property are not highlighted. A valuation of the property is not included, but a buildings reinstatement cost for insurance purposes is
The HCS is for the buyer (as opposed to the HCR, which is for the seller) and contains colour photographs of all the major defects found in the property. A full environmental report is also included at no extra cost. See our Services page for details where an example is available for download.
Home Inspectors who are registered with the SAVA Certification Scheme (the leading body responsible for training surveyors and valuers) and who hold the ABBE Diploma in Home Inspection are allowed to produce both the HCS and EPC.
Domestic Energy Assessors (DEA) who are accredited to a similar scheme are also able to produce the EPC, but not the HCS. At Inspectus, we are registered members of both the SAVA Certification Scheme for Home Inspectors and the NHER Accreditation Scheme for Domestic Energy Assessors. This means we can offer the HCS and the EPC.
Our stand alone EPC starts at just £70. The HCS starts at £350 and increases depending on the market value of the property.
All our Inspectors are trained to the highest standards and offer a completely unbiased and objective opinion. The reports are completed with the utmost care and attention from extensive site notes to ensure everything is as accurate as possible and we are always happy to discuss any issues that may arise.
We would like to think our service is one of the best but are always keen to look at ways we could improve still further. We actively encourage feedback and hope to reslove matters at a personal level. Should the need arise, however, we do operate our own complaints procedure, details of which are available on request.