EPC Certificates in Old Windsor

Who is allowed to produce an EPC — can my estate agent do it?

No. An EPC can only be produced and lodged by a domestic energy assessor registered with a government-approved accreditation scheme. An estate agent can arrange one on your behalf, and often adds a fee for doing so, but the assessment itself must be carried out by a qualified assessor who physically visits the property. The same applies to surveyors and builders — being qualified in a related field doesn't permit them to lodge a certificate.

 

How can I check an energy assessor is genuinely accredited?

Every accredited assessor holds a unique registration number with their scheme, and you're entitled to ask for it before booking. We're registered with Elmhurst Energy, Quidos and ECMK, and TrustMark registered, and we're happy to provide the number, photo ID and insurance details in advance — worth doing whenever a tenant or elderly relative is letting someone into the property. Once the certificate is lodged it appears on the government register alongside the assessor's details, so the work is traceable after the event too.

 

Do you cover Old Windsor itself, or only Windsor town?

Old Windsor and the whole SL4 area are covered as local work in their own right — we're based in Wraysbury, a few minutes away, so there's no travel charge and appointments are usually available same day or next working day. The same applies to Datchet, Wraysbury, Windsor, Eton, Egham, Englefield Green, Sunningdale and Ascot.

 

What information does an EPC actually contain?

More than just the letter grade. Alongside the current A–G rating you get the potential rating the property could reach, estimated annual heating, hot water and lighting costs, the property's estimated energy use per square metre, and a breakdown of how each element — walls, roof, windows, heating, controls, lighting — was assessed and rated. It closes with recommended improvements, each with an indicative cost and the rating gain it would deliver.

 

When do I need an EPC, and when do I not?

You need one before a property is marketed for sale or to let, before a new tenancy begins where no valid certificate exists, on completion of a new build or most conversions, and for grant applications covering insulation, heat pumps or solar. You don't need one to remortgage in most cases, to carry out ordinary renovation work, or simply because you own a house. Some listed buildings are exempt, though in practice many owners still obtain one because agents and lenders ask.

 

What's the quickest way to get an EPC booked?

Text or call 07850408160 — it's usually the fastest, and you'll often get a slot confirmed within minutes. Otherwise use the booking buttons on this page or email epcenergyassessor@gmail.com. Have the address and postcode ready, the number of bedrooms, and who's holding the keys. The price is fixed and confirmed before we attend, with nothing to pay up front.

 

Can the assessment go ahead if I'm not there, or if a tenant is living in the property?

Yes to both. An agent, tenant, neighbour or keyholder can provide access, and plenty of assessments happen with the owner elsewhere. Where a property is tenanted, the tenant needs reasonable notice and the assessor will need to move through every room, so a pre-agreed time works better than turning up. Nothing needs to be cleared, moved or cleaned beforehand.

 

What could delay my certificate?

Very little, but the common causes are worth avoiding: no access to the loft hatch, a locked outbuilding that forms part of the floor area, a boiler cupboard that can't be opened, or a meter cupboard key nobody can find. Missing paperwork doesn't delay the certificate, though it can cost you points on the rating. With full access, the certificate is normally lodged and emailed within 24 hours of the visit.

 

Will a period cottage or a property in a conservation area be assessed differently?

The method is identical — the same evidence-based survey and the same government software apply to a 17th-century cottage and a new-build alike. What differs is what the survey finds: solid walls, single glazing and older heating tend to produce a lower rating, and the recommendations may include measures that planning constraints or listed status would not permit. Where you have secondary glazing, internal wall insulation or an upgraded boiler, do have the paperwork ready, as those are exactly the improvements that go unrecorded and cost owners points.

 

Does an oil, LPG or electrically heated home score worse?

It can, because the calculation accounts for the fuel as well as the system. Properties off the mains gas network on the outskirts of Old Windsor often rate lower than an otherwise identical gas-heated house, and older electric storage heating tends to score poorly. It doesn't mean the property is badly built — and where the rating matters for a letting, we'll talk you through which changes shift it most for the least outlay.

 

What certificates does a landlord in Old Windsor need?

Three appear in almost every tenancy. The EPC is the one we provide, and it must meet the minimum rating before a tenancy is granted or continued — currently E, rising to C by 1 October 2030 under the government's Warm Homes Plan. Alongside it you'll need an annual gas safety certificate from a Gas Safe registered engineer, and an electrical installation condition report (EICR), renewed at least every five years, from a qualified electrician. Those two come from separate trades, but book the EPC first — it's the one that must be in place before the property can be advertised.