Apparently, Trading Standards are - or soon will be - using info from the EPC Register to search for anomalies. They’re starting in Gloucs first as a test-bed, I believe.

Some DEAs claim to be able to survey a 2 bed terrace house in 45 mins - which again seems feasible. Its so dependant upon age and type of stock that 30 minutes as an average time is widely misleading.

I always quote an hour per site visit - or an hour and a half for unusual properties 3+ bed flats or 5+ bed houses.

My 3 two bed flats this week each took an hour - they were c1940, c1960 and c1970 stock and had been greatly modified over their life.

This will be a long-running debate, I fear: some DEAs claim they can do basic flats in 20 mins, 3-beds anything from 20 - 40 mins.

I was speaking to someone yesterday who claimed they did 11 flats in a tower block!

Just to survey the most basic one bedroom flat or house would take 30 minutes. Measurements have to be taken and you have to think which measurements and lengths to take. 30 minutes is really pushing it and in no way is this representative of an average survey - 3 bed semi which can take an hour or more on site. Larger properties will take even longer - more measurements and more thinking time. To state that a DEA will call around at any time - yes we are flexible - but daylight is needed as some work needs to be carried outside - looking at the brickwork, window rebates ( to establish timber frame construction) and central heating flue type and most importantly the age of the building.

The age of the building is the most crucial decision a DEA can make. 30 minutes is just plain folly - only in very exceptional cases will it take 30 minutes. I find the wording on their site - an over simplification of the EPC process. The EPC is the only skilled judgement call in the HIP - the rest is a basic admin. service chasing up searches and leases etc.

We know that HIP panels are beating DEAs up over their pricing yet without us they are unable to function. Of course as sales volumes are way down on last year, they are fighting on price for survial. I say to all DEAs concentrate on the rental market where the EPC stands on its merit.

And finally once the DEA is back at base - generating the certificate can take 30 minutes as well. There is no room for input error as once the certificate is generated the system locks down. It has to be right first time.

Hope this helps you.

I noticed you drew the same comparison with MOTs in a past blog-post too: I think the glaring ommission there is the equipment they need; very expensive!

I don’t know who you are but welcome to the blogosphere anyway

In that case it might be that similar numbers - or even larger numbers in some regions - means a very large over supply of DEAs. That tallies with all that I’m hearing.

I’ll wait until I get a clearer picture of the rental property demand for EPCs from Landlords. It’s estimated that 11% of the housing stock is in the hands of private landlords - about 2.6 Million households.