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Three Top Tips to Prepare Estate Agents for the Green Deal and EPC Changes

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Date of Issue: 02 April 2012.

By: Richard Murray, property specialist and director of Eurolink Technology Ltd, the leading developer and supplier of innovative technology for the property industry.

Estate agents and lettings agents need to make changes to their business practice now, in preparation for this week’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) changes and the Green Deal’s implementation this October.

Rather than waiting until they are required to do so by law, agents should be starting to review the new EPC requirements and what regulations they will need to meet for the Green Deal in October, as the scheme is set to revolutionise established business procedures and client requirements.

Property professionals will have to assume an even greater responsibility over the provision of energy efficient ratings on behalf of property owners and estate agents will be relying on concise and up-to-date information that is easily accessible.

While it may initially appear daunting, agents’ preparation does not have to be complicated. Changes can be managed efficiently and effectively if the correct management solution is applied now:

  1. Use a software solution that is transferrable between both the estate and lettings arms of your agency to ensure that data can be easily managed, accessed and distributed by all employees.
  2. Your IT system should be automated to record the validity of existing EPC certificates and provide reminders when existing accreditations are due to be renewed (i.e. gas, electric or PAT certificates etc.) The system should also store electronic copies of these documents and certificates, along with links to their location on the EPC Register website.
  3. Implement a good software solution well before you are bestowed with the impending responsibilities associated with the Green Deal, to ensure you can provide the best, most efficient service later in the year and beyond:
  • your business will require consultation with an innovative IT provider
  • your staff will need time to adjust to any new system that is put in place

There is a single system solution available that meets all these criteria. The Veco-onesystemTM technology by Eurolink, covers all the key property disciplines including residential sales, lettings, property management, block management and property auctions and allows multi-practice agencies to combine one or more of their business systems under one roof.

This innovative software is designed to be efficient and cost effective, and along with a dedicated support team, aims to revolutionise estate agency efficiency and productivity, leading the way for property businesses to make the most of the changes our industry is currently experiencing.

For more details on the Veco-onesystemTM software offered by Eurolink, please visit www.eurolink.co or call 0137 2389 250.

Editors Notes:
The government-backed Green Deal aims to:

  • improve the energy efficiency of the UK’s varied housing stock in a financially viable way
  • ensure that any cost associated with eco-friendly improvements (such as insulation and solar panels) will be covered by any savings made on utility bills and that the cost of the improvements be born by utility bill holder – not the landlord
  • help reduce tenancy voids by keeping tenants happy with lower energy bills
  • lead to fewer maintenance issues and costs
  • meet the EU target of a 20 per cent CO2 reduction by 2020
  • improve the energy efficiency of properties to an EPC rating of E or above, prior to the 2018 ban on renting low-scoring EPC properties
  • allow tenants to demand Green Deal improvements from landlords by 2016

For more information, please visit the Department for Energy and Climate Change website: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/tackling/green_deal/green_deal.aspx


Press Enquiries:
Please contact Rebecca Dwyer or Julia Arnold at Sky Communications International on 01273 355 111 or email: rebecca.dwyer@skycommunications.co.uk.

Press Contact:
Becca Dwyer or Julia Arnold
Sky Communications International
44 (0)1273 355 111
 44 (0)7747 578 617
rebecca.dwyer@skycommunications.co.uk
julia.arnold@skycommunications.co.uk

Sky Communications International
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Frederick Place
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Technology EPC eco friendly efficiency CO2 reduction software development Green Deal landlords Energy Performance Certificate estate agency Sky Communications International London Property Richard Murray Eurolink UK property Lettings Agent Veco one-system Eurolink Technology Limited wwweurolinkco business systems Eurolink Technology Estate agents top tips Department for Energy and Climate Change

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The government-backed Green Deal aims to: • improve the energy efficiency of the UK’s varied housing stock in a financially viable way • ensure that any cost associated with eco-friendly improvements (such as insulation and solar panels) will be covered by any savings made on utility bills and that the cost of the improvements be born by utility bill holder – not the landlord • help reduce tenancy voids by keeping tenants happy with lower energy bills • lead to fewer maintenance issues and costs • meet the EU target of a 20 per cent CO2 reduction by 2020 • improve the energy efficiency of properties to an EPC rating of E or above, prior to the 2018 ban on renting low-scoring EPC properties • allow tenants to demand Green Deal improvements from landlords by 2016
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While it may initially appear daunting, agents’ preparation does not have to be complicated. Changes can be managed efficiently and effectively if the correct management solution is applied now.
Richard Murray, Director, Eurolink