Domestic Energy Assessor FAQ
When do EPCs happen?
Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are now required on all residential properties placed onto the market (with the exception of new homes and portfolio sales) and EPCs for all other property types are being introduced on a phased basis, by no later than 4th January 2009. This includes the following categories:
- EPCs on construction, sale or rent of dwellings and non-dwellings
- Display Energy Certificates (DECs) for public buildings
- Air conditioning inspections
- Providing information about boilers
The government department responsible for co-ordinating the roll-out of the EPC (Department for Communities and Local Government) has published the following time-line.
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6th April 2008 |
EPCs required on construction for all dwellings. EPCs required for the construction, sale or rent of buildings other than dwellings with a floor area over 10,000 m2. |
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1st July 2008 |
EPCs required for the construction, sale or rent of buildings other than dwellings with a floor area over 2,500m2. |
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1st October 2008 |
EPCs required on the sale or rent of all remaining dwellings. EPCs required on the construction, sale or rent of all remaining buildings other than dwellings. Display certificates required for all public buildings > 1,000 m2. |
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4th January 2009 |
First inspection of all existing air-conditioning systems over 250 kW must have occurred by this date*. |
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4th January 2011 |
First inspection of all remaining air-conditioning systems over 12kW must have occurred by this date*. |
How many Energy Assessors will be needed?
It is impossible to state exactly how many Energy Assessors will be needed to service the total demand for EPCs, as this will depend upon market conditions. However, there is no doubt that several thousand full-time equivalent Energy Assessors will be needed to cater for seasonal peaks and troughs in demand and the requirement of most DEAs to want to work on a part-time basis.
What are the opportunities for DEAs?
Now, with every home requiring a HIP, DEAs have opportunities to gain EPC business directly via estate agents or conveyancers, or alternatively via panel firms and intermediaries. How much work you attract will depend how much time and effort you put in to the promotion and marketing of your business.
From October, DEAs will be able to target letting agents, private landlords and social landlords for EPCs on residential let properties. With further training, as a DEA, you can gear up to Level 3 commercial EPCs.
Why should I train with property-careers.com?
Having operated in the surveyor training industry for many years, property-careers.com is one of the leading home inspector and energy assessor training organisations. We have the backing of a Public Listed Company which includes a network of 450 estate agency businesses. Remember that EPC instructions are generated every time an estate agent puts a property onto the market.
I've heard rumours...
That Energy Assessors are low paid- Is this true...
In relative terms qualified DEAs earn fees commensurate with their professional qualifications. An EPC on an average sized property should take a DEA less than 1 hour to complete for which they would expect a fee of between £50-£60. Where market activity allows, an individual DEA could comfortably complete 5 EPCs per day within their locality.
That there are too many accredited Energy Assessors. Is this true...
Thousands of Energy Assessors are actively involved in carrying out EPCs as part of the HIP and even more will be required to service the need for EPCs on domestic rental properties (mandatory from October 2008) and commercial properties. (Subject to further training)
The property sales industries have a 20-30% annual turn-over of personnel industry (known as "Churn"). Assuming a similar turn over in the new energy assessment industry over 1000 new entrants will be required every year.
That the DEA Course is too expensive. Is this the case
This course will gain you a nationally recognised professional qualification and at £1995 plus partial VAT, our Flexible Learning package is the most competitively priced on the market.
No previous surveying experience is required to take the course, which you can complete while continuing in your present employment.
With typical earning expectations as explained above, the cost of training can be recovered from the fees from less than 50 EPCs.
That the EPC is going to be scrapped- Can the Conservatives or anyone else do this
Every political party seems to be campaigning on green issues these days. As a green initiative which will help to reduce carbon emissions, Energy Performance Certificates are here to stay. They have been introduced under European Law but have cross-party support in the UK. The HIP (Home Information Pack) was opposed by some parties, however, this legislation was merely the vehicle by which the EPC was introduced. Even if the HIP were to be scrapped, the EPC will still be required under European Law. These EPCs will require to be carried out by qualified and accredited Domestic Energy Assessors.
