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Press Release - May 09

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EPC's - How to avoid being ripped off

Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are being offered at hugely differing charges – but the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) has warned those procuring EPC services on a lower cost basis that they may face significant risks and that what looks like a good deal can end up costing clients in ways they may not immediately predict.

Jacqueline Balian, Managing Director of CIBSE Services, highlights some particular hazards: ‘If you go to an intermediary who offers to provide all your EPCs at a very low cost, they may well seek to cut costs by using unqualified or semi-trained data-gatherers.’

‘They may persuade you that much of the required information is simply not available – allowing them to quickly turn you out a Grade G Certificate and default report, which will be of absolutely no value to you’.

‘All of these strategies will suit the intermediary, but will they suit you if they result in an unnecessarily low grade for your building? Many property portfolio owners feel that a low grade may make a property more difficult to let or even reduce the rental income it can command’.

Many of these comments are also relevant for local authorities and the related Display Energy Certificates.

One of the particular areas of concern is the recommendations report that is being produced alongside the EPC. Many clients, particularly corporate clients, will act upon these recommendations and spend huge amounts of money on improving the building or HVAC system when more simple and cost effective solutions will provide greater savings.

So the message is that those procuring EPCs should use qualified assessors who undertake the entire EPC, including the inspection, data input and recommendations report rather than using unqualified or semi-trained persons for any of these elements.

Wilbourn Associates fully support the idea that quality should be at the forefront when instructing an EPC to be carried out on a property. Property professionals including solicitors and managing agents should ensure as part of their due diligence that when instructing an EPC that this quality is guaranteed. Lets hope that the various regulatory authorities including CLG, RICS and BRE can make stipulations in this direction sooner rather than later.


For further information about this press release please contact Philip Wilbourn at Wilbourn Associates on 0114 243 5500 / 07973 797011.



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