Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)

All you need to know about Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) when letting or selling a property – Informing you of how a property performs in environmental terms.

Residential properties in Cyprus, both new and existing, are required by law to be certified. Since 1st January 2010, landlords have been required to provide Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) to new tenants and buyers as part of the property lettings and selling process. The Cyprus government requires an EPC to be carried out on all homes that are built, sold or rented after January 1st 2010. Each EPC will last for 10 years.

The idea by introducing Energy Performance Certificates is that they will help prospective buyers, tenants, owners and occupiers to easily compare the energy efficiency of one building with another building of the same type, so that they can consider fuel costs and energy efficiency as part of their investment.

Actually, the idea behind the EPC is not just for Cyprus, but a Pan Europe scheme, which has already been implemented in most other countries.

Do I need an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)?

It has been a legal requirement, since 1 January 2010, for all landlords (or someone acting on their behalf, such as an estate agent) to have a valid EPC for their property before it can be let or sold. This must be made available free of charge to the potential buyer/renter, and should be when you are first given written information about the home or when you view it, and before you enter into any contract to pay rent to the landlord.

If you are already renting a home on 1 January 2010 and carry on living there after that date, your landlord does not need to provide you with an EPC. An EPC is now also becoming a prerequisite for mortgages being secured and should form part of your checklist.

The point of the EPC is to force properties to become more energy efficient. The EPC and the recommendations that come with it give you important information about your home’s energy efficiency. The certificate will provide you with information about how much it is likely to cost to run the home you are interested in renting or buying. The estimated running costs are based on:

• standard assumptions about a property, including how many people will live there and how long it is heated each day; and
• average fuel prices when the EPC was produced – these could be up to 10 years old.

The actual energy used in running a property will of course very much depend on how the property and facilities are used, i.e. how long is the heating or air conditioning turned on, is the water heated to shower, whether lights and appliances are left on, what type of light bulbs and appliances are being used, etc.

What is an EPC?

An EPC assesses and rates the energy performance of a property, from "A" representing the most energy efficient property to "G" representing the least energy efficient property – similar to the energy performance certificates now provided with domestic appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines. An EPC will also show a building's environmental impact by indicating its carbon dioxide emissions. The EPC shows two things about a property:

• the energy-efficiency rating (this is based on how much the home would cost to run); and
• the environmental impact rating (this is based on how much carbon dioxide is released into the environment because of the home).

The rating is based on factors such as property age, layout, construction, heating, lighting, and insulation. The ratings are standard so you can compare the energy efficiency of one home easily with another.

A recommendation report forms part of the certificate. This is a list of ways in which the energy efficiency of the home could be improved. This must be carried out by a qualified Domestic Energy Assessor.

How long is an EPC valid for and what does it contain?

A valid EPC will last for 10 years and can be used for multiple tenancies within that period.

The EPC report includes cost-effective recommendations split into low-cost and high-cost improvements. The report also includes more advanced energy improvements that your landlord could make to a home to help it reach the highest possible energy efficiency standards. Many of these improvements are expensive and will take much longer to pay for themselves.

Some cost-effective recommendations for improving the energy efficiency of a home could include:

• using low-energy light bulbs or perhaps even LED lighting in areas where significant lighting is not required
• adding insulation, very important for more efficient heating and cooling double glazing windows
• Sun proof window blinds can significantly help keep a property cool during summer, as can shade from plants
• Think smart about the use of appliances, such as when cooking or showering in the latter part of the day when water is already heated from the sun and solar panels

In certain circumstances, you may be able to apply for grants to carry out these recommendations, such as solar devices, wind generated power, and water efficient mechanisms, among other.

How do I order an EPC?

Urban Keys are able to arrange for an EPC to be carried out on your behalf by a fully certified advisor/consultant in order to avoid any delays letting your property.

• The cost of an EPC will be from 200 + VAT
• Urban Keys will keep a digital copy of the EPC in case it is ever misplaced

For more information on how we can arrange your EPC immediately, call Urban Keys on +357 22 27 00 19.