Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)
Residential EPCs
If you are putting together your own Home Information Pack in order to save money, renting out a residential property, or are looking to commission an EPC in order to see what savings you can make on your energy bills, we are able to offer EPCs for £45 plus VAT for most properties.As the calculations and data gathering required are relatively straightforward we do not charge extra per bedroom or for more expensive homes. However, if your property is an unusual shape or has extensive extensions, rooms in the roof, or an unusual form of construction, then the EPC may take longer to carry out and will therefore attract a larger fee.
Most EPC inspections take between 15-30 minutes to complete and we aim to carry out a same or next day service (subject to access arrangements) with emailed reports being issued within 24 hours of inspection. We carry full PI insurance and as we are also Chartered Surveyors you can rest assured that the service you receive will be thorough and professional.
Commercial EPCs
Under the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), from 1st October 2008, all commercial property in the UK over 50 sq metres in size will have to have an EPC upon construction, or prior to sale or lease of the property. Solicitors acting for the ingoing owner or tenant are now calling for these Certificates as a condition of completing the acquisition and there are very few exceptions to providing them.We are able to supply competitively priced commercial EPCs via our consultant Joanna Steadman who is also a Chartered Surveyor.
Inventories
Inventories for standard unfurnished properties cost from £65 plus VAT depending on the size of the property.
Inventories for standard furnished properties cost from £85 plus VAT depending on the size and extent of the furnishings.
In many instances we are able to offer a discount if we are carrying out an EPC at the same time.
Andrew France & Co prepare Inventories using clear and unequivocal language with dated digital photography which accurately reflects the content and condition of a property prior to the commencement of a tenancy.
Inventories are an essential pre-letting document which detail both the contents and condition of the property.
Most landlords agree that they are essential for furnished properties but sometimes overlook their importance for unfurnished properties as they perceive there to be little that could be stolen, broken or damaged. However, a good inventory also details the condition of the property and guards against disputes at the end of the tenancy. If, for instance, your fresh magnolia walls were painted lime green by a tenant and left that way on their vacating the property, you may well deduct money from their deposit to cover the redecoration. However, the tenant may decide to sue you for that deduction and without a good inventory prepared by a third party it can be difficult to prove to a judge the state of the property when it was let.
A judge will not look favourably upon an inventory prepared by a landlord. Judges are notoriously favourable to tenants and they will tend to find in their favour every step of the way unless there is absolute solid evidence pointing the other way. In some instances you may lose the court case and have to repay monies to your tenant as well as court fees and the cost of redecoration.
We are also able to offer an inventory check at the end of the tenancy and updates to inventories on reletting.
