Important changes to Energy Performance Certificates
You may have noticed that the Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) we’ve been providing you with over the last couple of weeks have changed slightly in appearance.
In order to ensure that EPCs remain central to government thinking and policy (as the country aims to meet its climate change commitments) The Ministries for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has developed a new Energy Performance of Buildings Central Register which was launched on 20th September. This has replaced the previous Landmark EPC register, consolidating the four existing registers into one.
The Government has made changes to EPCs, Display Energy Certificates (DECs) and Air Conditioning Reports (AirCon).
The rationale for the changes is that a central portal accessed by a web link will make energy advice much more accessible to consumers and will act as a catalyst for improvements.
What are the key changes?
- Where a report was once provided in PDF format, information will now be supplied via a URL web link to a new central register
- More advice for consumers about what they can do next to make improvements, where to find grants and funding opportunities and where to get quality installers.
- Printable certificates will now be available from the new web page but PDFs won’t be issued as standard.
- Address searches will move from Landmark to the new register. Searches can still be carried out by postcode or certificate number but in addition, they can now be carried out using only the street name and town.
- ‘Draft EPCs’ removed but new ‘Overview report’ will allow certificates to be viewed prior to lodgement.
- The look of the reports – the most important information is now shown on the first page.
What do the new reports look like?
The benefits of the new format:
Ultimately, the new style of report is intended to improve the customer experience and provide better support for owners, landlords and tenants wanting to take the next steps towards improving energy efficiency.
The interactive nature of the portal means that the latest available information (eg on approved local installers or grants) is instantly accessible, making the EPCs more useful than the previous iterations.
To understand the finer details of the central register change, read the latest update from our approved energy assessor, Elmhurst Energy.
One feature that remains the same is that all homes will retain their Unique Property Reference Number (UPRNs).
How is NicheCom managing the changes?
Although the changes have meant from 20th September, all EPC information is now hosted on the new website, we will be making a more gradual transition to an online only offering.
We will be continuing to provide agents with a link to download a PDF of the report until the end of 2020 to give everyone a chance to get familiar with the Government’s new website. This should also allow time for any initial teething problems with the portal to be resolved.
From January 1st 2021, all EPC’s will be sent out via a link to the new site, where there will be an option to download a PDF if this is required.
If you have any questions about the changes, please do not hesitate to get in contact on 0118 977 0690 or email: info@nichecom.co.uk.