Welcome to C J Gambrill Ltd
We specialize in Home Inspection and Energy Assessment and offer the following services to the Residential and Commercial property sector:
- Home Information Packs (HIP)
- Residential Energy Performance Certificates
- Commercial Energy Performance Certificates
- Residential Surveys including Home Condition Report (HCR) and Home Condition Surveys (HCS)
- Floor Plans
We offer a first class, professional service and are accredited with SAVA and NHER.
- About us
- Domestic surveys
- Commercial surveys
- FAQs
- Links
- Contact us
CJ Gambrill Ltd is a small company providing services to the Residential and Commercial (Non Domestic) Property markets.
The company was formed in early 2009 operating from offices conveniently located between the M3 and M4 in the Basingstoke and Reading area offering the following services:
• Residential Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)
covering properties for sale and for rental
• Commercial Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)
covering properties for sale and for rental using SBEM
• Residential property surveys
Home Condition Reports and Home Condition Surveys
• Compilation of Home Information Packs (HIPs)
• Energy advice and consultancy
• Floor Plans
We produce marketing ready floor plans for estate agents
Our Surveyor, Domestic Energy Assessor and Commercial Energy Assessor provides a prompt and professional service to our clients.
Our Surveyor and Energy Assessor is a member of SAVA and NHER and as such is CRB approved.
We accept commissions along the M3 and M4 corridors from Reading and Basingstoke towards Chiswick West London.
Typically our domestic clients include Home owners, Estate Agents and Landlords.
Our Non Domestic (Commercial) Clients include estate managing agents.
We have no hesitation in recommending your services to anyone wanting a fast, comprehensive and excellent value service. Honestly, thank you for being so efficient. I'm grateful that at least one part of this process went entirely to plan!" Kim
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
Buyers Home Condition Survey (HCS)
Home Information Pack(HIP)
Energy Performance Certificate
All domestic and commercial properties being sold, let or constructed require an Energy Assessment as a result of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), which is part of European Legislation.
The assessment results in an Energy Performance Certificate or EPC which provides a measure of the green credentials of your property. In other words how energy efficient it is and how much carbon dioxide is produced in the process. This is achieved by a qualified and accredited Energy Assessor carrying out a survey and producing the certificate.
Written in plain English, the EPC is a clear and concise report on the current energy performance of your property with graphically presented ratings from A to G, where A is the most efficient. These are similar to consumer-friendly ‘fridge ratings’, and are required for the sale or rent of buildings. The EPC outlines the costs of energy use in your home and give practical advice on how to cut these costs and reduce emissions of carbon dioxide.
The certificate also gives a rating after the addition of improvements allowing you to decide which to address.
Carried out by specially, trained and fully accredited, residential property surveyors, the domestic survey takes approximately an hour, providing the seller or HIP provider with a certificate within 24 hours of the survey.
The commercial survey takes approximately 2 to 3 hours, the certificate is delivered within 5 days.
Energy Performance Certificates are produced to a standard Government approved format and are lodged in a central Government database.
By law EPC’s must be made available to any prospective occupier of a building.
Back to topBuying a house is a major investment, requiring the buyer to make accurate and informed decisions about the condition of their potential purchase. This is exactly what the Home Condition Survey (HCS) provides.
Written in plain English, the Home Condition Survey (HCS) is a clear and concise report on the condition of a residential property, allowing the homebuyer to make an informed and accurate decision. The HCS makes the home survey process quicker, easier and more cost-effective.
Delivered by specially, trained and fully accredited, residential property surveyors. The survey takes approximately 3 hours, providing the buyer a report in approximately 5 days, on the condition of the property, using a simple 1, 2, 3 traffic light style rating system, making it easy to understand any risks or unforeseen expenditure which could occur. The survey informs you of any serious faults and any aspects requiring urgent attention. It will also inform the homebuyer of any ongoing maintenance needing consideration.
The HCS report includes photographs, gives a good indication of the overall condition of the property and the level of repair and maintenance that may be required.
The HCS can only be produced by fully qualified and accredited members of SAVA –an organization which trains and accredits the work of surveyors. Homebuyers can be assured of a comprehensive report produced by a property professional.
The aim of the HCS is to make the home survey process quicker, easier and more cost-effective for homebuyers – something that is now of paramount importance.
Although this survey does not include a valuation it does provide detail about the condition, which could assist in the purchase negotiation process.
For more information see FAQs or contact us for free advice.
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Home Information Pack
A Home Information Pack or HIP, as it is commonly known are documents that provide homebuyers, sellers, estate agents, conveyancers and mortgage lenders with key information about the property that is for sale. A HIP must be provided by the seller, and must be available on the first day a property is marketed for sale.
The HIP will contain all of the required documents – as set out in government regulations.
• An index listing the contents of the HIP
• A Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ)
• An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
• A Sale Statement
• Evidence of Title
• Standard Searches
• A copy of the Lease
• Documents showing proof of title
• The HIP can also contain the voluntary Home Condition Report.
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The commercial EPC will provide the energy rating of a building and includes a detailed recommendation report with a payback forecast enabling the purchaser or tenant to make an informed decision as to the energy efficiency of their investment.
The commercial property survey can take between two to six hours, examining all aspects of construction, heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting and hot water systems. The subsequent analysis is made using specially developed software. The government commissioned the Building Research Establishment (BRE) to produce the SBEM (Simplified Building Energy Model) computer software and it is the mandatory tool for producing non-domestic EPCs.
The commercial EPC is valid for 10 years.
The EPC has to be made available at the earliest opportunity and no later than:
• When the property particulars have been prepared or any written information has
been provided in response to a request for information from a buyer or tenant
• a viewing is undertaken
• Before entering into a contract to sell or let.
The following properties are exempt from Commercial EPCs
• Places of worship
• Temporary buildings in use for less than two years, e.g. site offices
• Low energy demand buildings such as agricultural buildings, e.g. barns
• Stand alone buildings less than 50 sq m, e.g. sheds and summer houses
The Commercial Energy Performance Certificate provides the owner or potential buyer of the property with an energy efficiency rating, allowing the purchaser to make an informed decision on the carbon consumption of their investment and how they can make potential savings on energy costs.
Our assessors are qualified to undertake Domestic Energy Assessments for any commercial properties that have adjoining residential property, for example a shop with a dwelling above. The residential EPC can be included in our quote and completed at the same time as the Commercial EPC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Residential Energy Performance Certificates
Who needs to provide an EPC?
For how long is the EPC valid?
Who can produce an EPC?
What will the assessment comprise?
Commercial Energy Performance Certificates
When do I need to provide an EPC?
Are any buildings exempt?
Home Condition Survey
What is the Home Condition Survey?
Why doesn’t the HCS include an EPC?
How do I commission a Home Condition Survey?
When will I receive the Survey report?
Home Condition Report
What is the Home Condition Report?
Home Information Pack
What is in the Home Information Pack?
How will I obtain the PIQ?
Residential Energy Performance Certificates
Who needs to provide an EPC?All sellers of homes need to ensure that they provide a Home Information Pack which includes an EPC for potential buyers before marketing of their property begins.
All landlords need to provide an EPC and recommendation report free of charge to prospective tenants the first time they let or re-let a property. The EPC must be available when written information about the building is provided on request, when a viewing is conducted and before entering into a contract to let.
The EPC must be available for the following:
• when written information about the building is requested
• when a viewing is conducted
• before entering into a contract to let.
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An EPC contained within a Home Information Pack is valid for three years.
An EPC for rented property is valid for ten years.
Who can produce an EPC?
Energy Performance Certificates can only be prepared by accredited Energy Assessors.
What will the assessment comprise?
The Energy Assessor will assess the age and construction methods used at the property, measure the floor area and room heights and collect data about the heating systems, lighting, loft and wall insulation. During this process we will take photographs as evidence in support of the certificate.
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Commercial Energy Performance Certificates
When do I need to provide an EPC?
By law
Energy Performance Certificates are required for most non-domestic commercial buildings being sold, rented or constructed.
Modified buildings
Buildings with Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems installed or modified may also require an EPC.
For sale or rent
As soon as the building is offered for sale or rent the seller or landlord must make an EPC available to prospective buyers or tenants. The Energy Performance Certificate may be for the whole building or individual units and completion of contract should not happen without it.
On modification
The contractor undertaking modification work is responsible for providing an Energy Performance Certificate and Recommendations Report to the client. They must then notify Building Control who will not issue the Certificate of Completion until the EPC is provided.
The maximum penalty for non-compliance is currently £5000 which is enforceable by Trading Standards. The penalty notice also includes the requirement to produce a valid EPC.
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Are any buildings exempt?
Exemptions to the requirement for an EPC are:
- Places of worship
- Temporary buildings in use for less than two years, e.g. site offices
- Low energy demand buildings such as agricultural buildings, e.g. barns
- Stand alone buildings less than 50 sq m, e.g. sheds and summer houses
What is the Home Condition Survey?
The Home Condition Survey (HCS) is a survey and report designed specifically for the home buyer, rather than for inclusion in the Home Information Pack. It has standard terms of engagement and a standard format and will not be lodged on the central register. It is not subject to government regulation.
Why doesn’t the HCS include an EPC?
It is expected that every property being purchased will have an EPC as a part of the HIP. Should you require an EPC then one can be provided.
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How do I commission a Home Condition Survey?
Contact us with details of the property and we will draw up a contract and arrange the necessary data exchange prior to conducting the survey.
When will I receive the Survey report?
Usually within 5 days of the survey.
What is the Home Condition Report?
A Home Condition Report contains information on the condition of a property, upon which sellers, buyers, and lenders can legally rely.
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Home Information Pack
What is in the Home Information Pack?
The HIP will contain all of the required documents – as set out in government regulations.
- An index listing the contents of the HIP
- A Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ)
- An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
- A Sale Statement
- Evidence of Title
- Standard Searches
- A copy of the Lease
- Documents showing proof of title
- The HIP can also contain the voluntary Home Condition Report.
How will I obtain the PIQ?
We will provide you with the PIQ and if required, assist you with completion.
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NHER
www.nher.co.uk/
SAVA
www.sava-cs.org.uk/
Department for Communities and Local Government
www.communities.gov.uk
Energy Saving Trust
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/
Association of Home Information Pack providers
www.hipassociation.co.uk
Our Property
www.OurProperty.co.uk
Metropix Floor Plans
www.metropix.co.uk
Jane Davies Graphic design
www.janedavies.net
C J Gambrill Ltd
Barn Cottage
Mill Lane
Hartley Wespall
Hampshire
RG27 0BQ
Tel: 01256 881459
