EPC Home Inspector Guide

Being an energy assessor or home inspector
Energy assessors assess the energy efficiency of buildings and produce Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), Display Energy Certificates and related reports. Home inspectors produce Home Condition Reports and EPCs for Home Information Packs.

This guide describes the roles of energy assessors and home inspectors. It outlines the training you will have to undertake to get accredited as an energy assessor or certified as a home inspector. It also gives advice on how you can find work once you are qualified.

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The role of the energy assessor
Most buildings for sale or rent need an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). This measures a building's energy efficiency and includes recommendations for possible efficiency improvements. Only accredited energy assessors and home inspectors can produce EPCs.

For more information on home inspectors, see the page in this guide on the role of the home inspector.

After accreditation, energy assessors can find work in the following areas: domestic energy assessors work on existing dwellings on-construction domestic energy assessors assess new-build dwellings from plans commercial (non-domestic) energy assessors produce EPCs for commercial buildings operational ratings assessors produce the annual Display Energy Certificates (DECs) needed to show the energy efficiency of large public buildings - such as government or local authority premises, libraries and museums air conditioning system energy assessors inspect the energy efficiency of existing air conditioning equipment and systems

What is involved in an energy assessment
As an energy assessor, you would: gather information on the building, property or dwelling, eg age, number of storeys, room sizes, type of building, number and size of corridors, windows and fireplaces, heating and hot water systems and controls, fixed lighting and insulation enter data into an approved software programme which produces an energy efficiency rating and an EPC explain efficiency ratings to homeowners or businesses give practical advice to owners or tenants on how to improve the energy efficiency of their property AccreditationTo work as an energy assessor, you must be suitably qualified and accredited. See the page in this guide on training to become an energy assessor.

For a list of accrediting bodies and further information, see our guide on energy assessor accreditation.

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Training to become an energy assessor
To work as an energy assessor, you need to get a recognised diploma qualification and be a member of an approved accreditation scheme.

Recognised energy assessor qualifications
If you have no experience of energy assessment, you must attend a course appropriate to the type of energy assessor you want to become. Further education colleges, professional bodies and private organisations offer individual courses to suit your needs. For information on the different types of energy assessors, see the page in this guide on the role of the energy assessor.

Courses for diplomas in energy assessment usually take around six to ten weeks of study and include tutorials, directed research, project or assignment work. They are made up of three to five units, covering subjects such as: working in an effective and professional manner contributing to the safety and security of people and property preparing to undertake energy assessments undertaking energy inspections producing and explaining Energy Performance Certificates You will be assessed by a multiple choice exam and on a portfolio of work.

For details, you can contact the diploma-awarding organisations: the Awarding Body for the Built Environment (ABBE) City & Guilds the National Federation of Property Professionals (NFOPP) You should make sure that there are sufficient opportunities for work before you embark on any training.

Joining an energy assessor accreditation scheme
There are different kinds of accreditation for each type of energy assessor. The schemes ensure that energy assessors are competent and independent.

Once you have qualified, you must become a member of one of the accreditation schemes by doing the following: showing you have a recognised qualification, or approved prior experience and learning equivalent to the national occupational standard requirements maintaining appropriate professional indemnity cover updating your skills and knowledge regularly taking part in the accreditation body's quality assurance procedures abiding by the scheme's advice and guidance For information on accreditation schemes, see our guide on energy assessor accreditation.

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The role of the home inspector
Home inspectors produce Home Condition Reports (HCRs). They may also produce Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs).

To produce HCRs, you need in-depth knowledge of residential building construction and defects across a range of types of dwellings.

To become a home inspector, you need a level four home inspection diploma and a home inspector's licence.

HCRs
HCRs give the buyer, seller and buyer's mortgage company reliable ratings of the condition of a home at the date it was inspected. They identify any serious defects that need urgent attention and anything that needs further investigation to prevent damage to the structure of the building.

To produce an HCR, you must: examine the inside and outside of a property give each part of the building a condition rating based on a set scale give reasons for each rating recommend further investigation of defects that could be serious Once you have produced the HCR, you must send it to your certification scheme.

EPCs
For information on producing EPCs, see the page in this guide on the role of the energy assessor.

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Working as an energy assessor or home inspector
Please note that Home Information Pack duties are suspended with immediate effect from 21 May 2010. This means that homes marketed for sale on or after this date will no longer require a Home Information Pack. However, Energy Performance Certificates are still required.

Find guidance on the changes to the Home Information Pack scheme on the Communities and Local Government website - Opens in a new window.

Energy assessors and home inspectors can be self-employed or employed by companies such as estate agents, letting agents, conveyancing solicitors and surveyors.

Since Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are now compulsory, there will be a need to produce these. However, slowdowns in the housing market could reduce demand for EPCs. You should make sure that there are sufficient opportunities for work before you embark on any training.

You can find information and advice about self-employment on the Job Centre Plus website - Opens in a new window.

You can also see our guide on how to set up and register as self-employed.

Salary, hours and working conditions
Your income and hours will depend on the business opportunities in your area and whether you are self-employed or employed.

Your time will be spent travelling between properties, carrying out inspections and writing up reports. You may occasionally need to carry out inspections during evenings and weekends.

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Source: www.businesslink.gov.uk