What is an Energy Performance Certificate?

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) contains information about how energy is used in a home or a business premises. The EPC looks broadly similar to the energy labels now provided with vehicles and many household appliances. Its purpose is to indicate how energy efficient a building is. The certificate will provide an energy rating of the building from A to G, where A is very efficient and G is the least efficient.

If you have a brand new home it’s likely to have a high rating. If you have an older home it’s likely to be around D or E. EPCs are produced using standard methods with standard assumptions about energy usage so that the energy efficiency of one building can easily be compared with another building of the same type. This allows prospective buyers, tenants, owners, occupiers and purchasers to see information on the energy efficiency.

Each energy rating is based on the characteristics of the building itself (the fabric) and its services (such as heating, ventilation and lighting).The EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings is an important part of government strategies for tackling climate change. The principle underlying the Directive is to make energy use in buildings transparent by the issuing of a certificate showing the energy rating of a property, accompanied by recommendations on how to improve efficiency. This energy performance certificate (EPC) must be provided whenever a property is constructed, rented out or sold.

EPCs are valid for 10 years and can be reused as required within that period. A new EPC is not required each time there is a change of tenancy, or the property is sold, provided it is no more than 10 years old. Where more than one is produced, the most recent EPC is the valid one.

Do I need to have an Energy Performance Certificate?

Croatian regulation state that before a building is put onto the market the seller or landlord must commission an EPC for the building. A person acting on behalf of the seller or landlord must also be satisfied that an EPC has been commissioned for the building before marketing.

Cost

The cost of an EPC for an apartment is 1,600Kn and for a house 2,800Kn, both are subject to VAT at 25%.We are happy for our clients to arrange for themselves an EPC, providing us with details and certificate. Alternatively Balustrade Estates can arrange and accompany if necessary an EPC inspector to your property to undertake an Energy Performance Certificate. Balustrade Estates will charge 300Kn plus PDV for this service to be paid on completion of the EPC.
If you have any concerns or questions on this new directive, then please do not hesitate to contact us.

Energy Performance Certificate