The Government’s department for Communities and Local Government has responded to EAT’s story on Monday which revealed that opting out of the EPC public database has been made possible.
The press release published by CLG earlier this month, on April 2, did not say anything about the opt-out.
The April 2 statement said that buyers “will also be able to compare the energy performance of their home with that of similar properties, as the National Energy Performance Certificate Register is opened up to public use for the first time”.
It quoted communities minister Andrew Stunell who said: “And by making the national register of Energy Performance Certificates open to the public, each home owner will for the first time be able to see how their property compares with others, and where changes could be made so their homes become as eco-friendly as possible.”
Yesterday, a CLG spokesman said: “Energy Performance Certificate data is now publicly available as we announced earlier this month and published on our website. This will help in the challenge to reduce carbon emissions from buildings.
“Any EPC holder can however opt out of having their data made publicly available.”
Insiders say that CLG is expected to issue a further statement clarifying exactly what agents’ responsibilities are in putting property information online, both on their own websites and on portals such as Rightmove.
Some agents appear to be disregarding the apparently clear instruction to attach the front page of the EPC, including the property’s address, to online particulars.
Comments
So if the EPC is not in the Public Register, does not carry the address, the information is as useless as a chocolate tea pot so no point in adding it as said EPC could just belong to another property with a better EPC result.
That could be a great scam if only anyone had any interest it the damn things.
Our government, as I have said before, is a bunch that needs to be taken out and shot as they have no idea about our business. They are quick to promote big organisations (remember the DeLorian car that tax payers sunk money into, lets not forget the banks which are now being sold off at a huge loss to taxpayers, the NOTW where secretly they pushed Mr M into being the man at the top [bye bye Mr Hunt] and the list goes on and on and on).
So dont bother to order one for each property just fiddle one and use it for all the properties on your books - simple! And you can still charge for producing said dud EPC. Money for old rope and no come back. Easier than stealing deposit money and rent and probably carries a lesser sentance if only the charges would stick.
@Pboro Agent
I agree it is early days but two of the Agents (both ARLA members) are only showing the graphs without the address.
The whole point of the address on the EPC is for the prospective tenant/purchaser to be assured that the energy rating matches that address and has not been taken from another property with a better rating.
on ARLA website it states that an image is acceptable. Therefore i have taken a photo at a certain angle so that the address is slightly vague
Im hoping this would be acceptable
Probably, but then you run the risk of forgetting to upload it when the time is right.
Yes so as said by someone previously, if we have 7 days and then 21 days!? can we not advertise an EPC at all then - but then supply to whever asks for it with the 7/21 days?
@IHS
You only have to post the first page of the EPC on properties listed since 6th April. The agent has 7 days followed by a further 21 days to get the EPC and make it available.
They could therefore easily be fully compliant with the new regs yet not show any EPCs (or they just might not have listed owt).
I understand that there have been two successful prosecutions by Trading Standards who are under political pressure to ensure that the legislation is complied with. At a maximum penalty of £5000 per go per property and a possible criminal record could be expensive for someone!
Checked with four of our major rival agents only one of whom is showing any EPC details on their web site and then only the graph with no identifying address so could be a different property to the one to which it is attached.
Who is policing this nonsense?
The option to opt-out is purely so that the EPC will not be found in an address or postcode search on the register. Also, it will not be included in the bulk data retrieval that can now be made by approved authorised entities.
Anonymous Coward - I know this sounds daft, but it is an not allowed to remove the address from domestic EPCs. I suspect that if you do, then you will be in breach of the regulations.
So, you can opt out of the public access register, which then stops anyone comparing properties. However, if someone wants to compare a number of properties they just request the sales details and the epc.
So what is the point of the opt out?
Oh BTW, from what I have read...
If the details include the complete postal address then so should the EPC.
If the details DO NOT include the complete postal address then neither should the EPC.
Therefore - no problem... Just keep doing what you are doing already but with one small extra step.
I've been the one sorting this out for where I work.
We have got a very simple solution, make it small (but big enough to read).
Take the address off? Easy - my EPC guy sends me 3 versions: the full EPC as a PDF, the first page (no address) as a PDF, and the first page (no address) as a JPEG.
Takes less than 5 minutes to prepare he tells me.
Then I upload the JPEG into my computer software which uploads to the portals as one of the photos for the property and it gets automatically added to my printed details.
Compliant on RM and FAP, compliant on paper...
Very simple, very straightforward, takes me just a few extra clicks and my DEA just a couple of minutes.
Why all this fuss for goodness sakes?
Is it just another thing to whinge about because there isn't much else to do?
It seems that most agents here in SW London either are not putting the EPC's on their details or taking out the address, the local Trading Standards are not aware of the what they should be doing, it really is a total mess. I spoke with the NAEA, they say that it is only agents in London that are worried about having the address on the details!!
I have just opted to have my EPC removed from the publically accessible EPC database. It only takes a few minutes to opt out. However, be mindful of the fact that a vendor is only opting out of being on the publically accessible EPC database. The EPC is still accessible when adding the EPC RRN to the predetermined register link which is: https://www.epcregister.com/direct/report/
Even if a vendor opts out under current regulations the full address of the EPC must still be displayed on marketing material and on the EPC that is handed out to potential purchases/tenants.
Any questions, feel free to contact me on 0118 936 0127
Kind regards, Pete
@hmmm
The opt out is not so you don't have to have an EPC, it’s just so the report isn't included on the public register.
@ Peter
No, we should all be focussed on making profit. All this EPC excrement adds to costs & wasted time.
@ David Bennett on 2012-04-25 08:09:39
".... I am a DEA and ex-estate agent so feel your pain! I have advised all of my EAs not to include the EPC on websites......, (YOUR agents?)
So if you are wrong, you will carry the can for them?
Ok so can I now not advertise without EPC and simply say if asked that the vendor/landlord has decided to opt out?!
As an estate agent for some 30 years and a DEA I find it hard to understand why everyone has to keep moaning. Whats here is here so why not just get on with it and focus all that energy into selling houses, after all thats what we are supposed to be doing - isn't it.
opting out is easy just follow this link: https://www.epcregister.com/opt-out/
Though for the life of me i can't find it anywhere on the website! However this is the correct link if any one wants to use use it
I am a DEA and ex-estate agent so feel your pain! I have advised all of my EAs not to include the EPC on websites, until the address can be removed. With the address being left on, there are all sorts of issues - vendor's security, potential private sales, touting (wash my mouth out!) etc. Rock and a hard place comes to mind. Shouldn't be a problem with brochures, as the address is already on it. My agents are incorporating the EPC on the brochure, in the printing process.
As agents we are doing everything asked, How exactly do we/vendor OPT out this again is not clear??