introduction
From 1st october 2008 Social Housing Providers have been legally
obliged to provide a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) to
potential tenants each time a property is offered for rent.
National housing provider Hanover Housing Association were involved
in a pilot study to explore how best to provide the EPCs required
by the legislation regarding energy performance information for
tenants when a property is offered for rent. Hanover Housing
employed us to assist in the pilot study by providing assistance at
the planning stages and surveying and producing EPCs for each
property.
challenge
Hanover Housing identified 970 properties spread over 30 sheltered housing sites to be included in the project. Each site required a sample survey of a minimum number of properties, with the remainder being cloned from similar properties within the site. All EPCs were required to be produced within a period of 7 weeks, whilst maintaining a high level of customer service to Hanover Housing staff and residents.
solution
Our four fully qualified and accredited domestic energy assessors surveyed a sample of 50 - 60% of the properties within each housing site, before calculating coherent property groups using strict tolerance criteria contained within the latest Government guidance on sampling and cloning methodologies. EPCs for the properties that were not physically surveyed were then cloned using on-line software provided by the professional body with which our assessors are accredited.
outcome
Accurate and informative EPCs were produced for each and every property involved in the project and will now be valid for a period of 10 years. The project was delivered on schedule and for the pre-agreed fee per site.
"I am extremely pleased with the way Sustain delivered our
programme of works under a very tight schedule. Sustain's assessors
worked hard to maintain a very professional level of service to
Hanover Housing staff and tenants and have produced a large number
of EPCs on our behalf, which will go a long way to helping us meet
our upcoming legal obligations"
Barry Hewitt, Head of Facilities Management, Habover Housing
Association
