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EPCs and HIPs in the News August

EPC

Tenants Urged to Check the EPC before Renting

Prospective tenants urged to check the EPC for a property before renting. With winter approaching, it makes sense to make sure bills are manageable.

With the introduction of the EPC for the rental market, it is now much easier to comparing rental accommodation for more than just the weekly rent. Taking advantage of the available properties will save money on fuel bills and help to drive down carbon emissions.

Low Rated Properties Removed From sale

F and G rated properties (the worst rating) available for sale met with a mixed reaction following a call to ban their sale.

Stopping the sale of these properties would force the owners to make improvements; however, it is not clear how some properties improve to E or better due to conservation issues or cost.

There are always improvements available.

Insulation

Nearly anywhere you care to think of:

Heating

Almost any heater has a more recent, energy efficient, equivalent:

Glazing

Improving glazing can help; this can be by applying a reflective coating, installing secondary glazing on the inside or by going all out and getting new glazing altogether. Companies are around who will come out and re-seal your existing glazing as well.

Lighting

Love them or hate them, low energy lighting is here to stay. There is an enormous saving using them. If you have sixty-watt bulbs in your house and replace them with ten-watt bulbs, you will save fifty-watts electricity per bulb.

Technological Improvements

Technology is catching on to the need for energy savings, however this can cause problems in itself as companies clamour for their share of the market in these hard times rather than focusing on the long term benefits.

HIP

HIP Providers not Delivering HIPs

Several independent home information pack providers are reporting disgruntled consumers are not receiving their HIP in good time, if at all; and they are taking the flack.

It seems that there is a gathering momentum to get market share by price rather then an ability to deliver the goods. There have been many pack providers who have set up to get the work based solely on price and have continued to trade or even change name and start over again at the same premises, with the same staff.

The main components of the HIP are required before a property is available for sale. Making a property available for sale before this can lead to fines.

It seems ironic that these cheap providers try to market themselves in the sustainability industry, and are un-able to sustain their own business due to short sightedness and short term gains.

We are here for the long term, and will survive by providing customers with what they ask for. Don’t take any chances; contact us now, even if you are not looking for an EPC or HIP at this moment.