Bridges Estate Agency is a independent agency specialising in Saddleworth, Mossley and surrounding areas with a professional and dedicated service. 
Find Bridges Estate Agency at 63 High Street, call 01457 871845 or visit www.bridgesestateagent.co.uk
WE ARE always asked why an Energy Performance Certificate is needed.
An Energy Performance Certificate – EPC – is needed for any property being sold or rented. If you are selling, renting or building commercial property, you need a Commercial EPC.
If a building is split into parts ‘designed or altered to be used as separate accommodation’ the parts may each require their own EPC.
An EPC should be provided to a prospective buyer or tenant at the earliest opportunity and no later than when a viewing is conducted or when written information is provided about the building.
Even if no marketing takes place it must be provided before entering into a contract to sell or let which will be provided to the solicitor.
An EPC is valid for up to ten years, unless a newer EPC is produced for the property, in which case only the latter is valid.
If an EPC has not been carried out, penalties can be incurred. The penalty for failing to make an EPC available to any prospective buyer or tenant when selling or letting non-dwellings is fixed, in most cases at 12.5 per cent of the rateable value of the building, subject to a minimum penalty of £500 and a maximum of £5,000.
There is a default penalty of £750 where the formula cannot be applied. The EPC will still be required.
Some properties are subdivided, such as buildings with separate parts and separate heating systems. An EPC should be prepared (or made available) for each part of a building that is being offered separately for sale or let.
If selling or letting the whole building it is permissible to provide EPCs for each of the individual parts.
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