Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)

Same-day EPCs at great value prices

If you are considering selling or letting a property, then it’s likely that you’ll need an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) to have been commissioned before the property can go onto the market.

Open House local agents provide cost-effective EPCs with a quick turn around and a quality service. We offer a range of solutions suitable for all types and sizes of property.

Let us take care of your EPC requirements. Call Open House estate agents for more details.

What is an EPC?

All properties put onto the market for sale or to-let require an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). The EPC must have been commissioned before the property can be marketed.

An EPC tells the potential purchaser / tenant how energy efficient a property is. With rising energy prices increasing the cost of living, prospective purchasers / tenants can use this information as an indication on how high their gas and electricity bills will be.

This efficiency will be rated on a scale from A to G, with the most energy efficient home achieving an ‘A’ rating. An EPC will also advise on the impact the property has on the environment and provide recommendations on how to make the property more energy efficient.

Why were EPCs introduced?

Buildings are responsible for around 40 per cent of the UK's energy consumption and carbon emissions. Backed by European law, as part of the Energy Performance Buildings Directive (EPBD), the introduction of EPCs is an important step in highlighting people's awareness of energy wastage.

Even if you are not actively in the process of letting or selling property, it is still considered good practice to obtain an EPC for your home. An EPC will provide valuable information and will help you take action to minimise running costs and maximise efficiency.

Call Open House estate agents for more details about our Energy Performance Certificate services.

Home Information Packs (no longer required by law)

An optional document for properties for sale

A HIP is a collection of reports designed to provide crucial information about your property to any potential buyer. Introduced by law in 2007 in England and Wales, and subsequently suspended by the current Government in May 2010, HIPs are now an optional document that home sellers can choose to obtain.

Some sellers are still purchasing these packs, as it’s been reported that a HIP can help to speed up the conveyancing process once a sale has been agreed by up to two weeks.

What is a Home Information Pack?

The HIP contains important information that buyers and sellers need to know.

For sellers, providing a HIP upfront should reduce the likelihood of any nasty surprises in the selling process that could delay the sale, as buyers will be able to make more informed decisions about purchasing their home.

For buyers, the HIP provides essential information about properties they are considering buying, free of charge.

What does a Home Information Pack contain?

Compulsory documents (included in all Open House packs):

• Home Information Pack Index
• Property Infromation Questionnaire (PIQ)
• Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
• Sale Statement
• Evidence of title
• Local authority search
• Drainage and water search
• Leasehold and commonhold additional information (where applicable)

Other documents (not included as standard – available at additional cost):

• Home Condition Report
• Legal summary
• Home use / contents forms
• Other documents (e.g. non-standard searches)

Call Open House estate agents for more details about our Home Information Pack services.

All prices are subject to VAT. Services offered by Open House Online Estate Agents in certain areas may differ from those listed above. *Same day EPCs are subject to property access – not available in all areas. E&OE.