Seller Information leaflet for Energy Performance Certificates

As a member of the steering group of the Institute of Domestic Energy Assessors (IDEA at www.whatstheidea.co.uk), I produced a Seller Information leaflet for the benefit of vendors and estate agents. This is free to download and modify as necessary. It has undergone extensive drafting based on detailed feedback from practising energy assessors.

This leaflet has been approved by AHIPP in principle, pending a successful trial outcome. Home Information Pack Providers (HIPPs) and estate agents can add their logo and contact details to the leaflet.

The leaflet is a 2-sided A4 document to be given to the vendor at the first point of contact. It describes the Energy Performance Certificate, the energy assessment, and how to prepare for an assessment. The reverse side contains a questionnaire for use by the energy assessor.

It includes useful information including:

The questionnaire prepares the vendor for questions from the assessor, and gives them time to assemble documentary evidence.

If the energy assessor is unaccompanied, as is often the case, a completed questionnaire can speed up the assessment. It can also produce a more accurate energy rating; for example, it may be difficult to date a property extension, possibly resulting in a lower energy rating. The more information available to the energy assessor, the more accurate the rating.

The industry is under pressure to produce HIPs quickly, the priority component being the EPC. This time pressure prevents HIP providers from sending a Seller Information leaflet to the vendor. Using a Seller Information leaflet, estate agents have the opportunity to inform their vendors, help energy assessments run smoothly, and improve the accuracy of energy ratings. The leaflet directs queries from the vendor to the energy assessor, relieving the estate agent of an additional burden.

Advice on using the Seller Information leaflet

If you do not receive a copy from your HIPP, download the document and open it in Word.
Attach your company logo and contact details, if desired.
Print a supply of leaflets, back-to-back.
Give each new vendor a leaflet at the first point of contact. Ask them to leave it at the property, ready for the assessor.
Ask the vendor to ignore questions if they are unsure of their answers.

You are free to modify the leaflet as you wish, perhaps working with your local energy assessor.

You may already be giving an information leaflet and/or questionnaire to vendors. Please feel free to use parts of the above document to modify your own.

For further information and feedback, email Andrew Edmondson at research@SussexIDEAS.co.uk

Trial

NRG Experts and PSG have kindly agreed to take part in a trial run. They will email the leaflet and instructions to a selection of estate agents and energy assessors. Feedback will be collected from estate agents and energy assessors; feedback from vendors will be collected via the energy assessors.

Please take part in this trial if you are contacted. Your positive contribution will greatly help estate agents, energy assessors and vendors.

Thank you.