Domestic energy assessor

Domestic energy assessors check the properties of people who are selling their homes. They look at how energy efficient the homes are. After the checks, assessors provide the sellers with documents that they need, by law, to sell their homes.

Work activities

Domestic energy assessors provide people selling their homes with Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs). This is a document that all people selling their homes in England and Wales must have. Domestic energy assessors check the age and condition of properties and check to see how energy efficient they are. They check the inside and outside of the property. For the inside, this would mean things like ceilings, floors and internal walls. For the outside, they would check things such as chimneys, gutters and windows.

When checking the property, the assessor will give each of its parts a rating. When they have finished, they will also give the house a rating from A to G for energy efficiency and carbon emissions, with A being the best.

After issuing the EPC, assessors will give advice to their clients on how to make their homes more energy efficient.

Being able to read, write and speak Welsh may be an advantage when you’re looking for work in Wales.

Personal qualities and skills

To do this job well, you’ll need:

• An interest in buildings and how they are built.
• Good people skills for when you are dealing with clients and also other professionals involved with homes, e.g. estate agents.
• IT skills.
• A good eye for spotting building defects.
• To have good organisation skills, as you’ll be working on many projects at the same time.
• Good writing skills and the ability to explain things in plain English.
• This job will involve local travel so a driving licence and access to a vehicle would be useful.

A number of key skills have been identified by employers in the sector:

• Management skills
• Communication skills
• Knowledge of industry-based green/environmental issues
• An understanding of current government policy.

Pay and opportunities

Domestic energy assessors earn in the range of £18,000 - £35,000 a year.

Assessors work around 35-40 hours a week, Monday to Friday, with some evening and weekend work. There may be opportunities to work part-time.

Domestic energy assessors are likely to work for: residential estate agents solicitors and conveyancers building surveying firms energy companies organisations offering home surveys. Opportunities for domestic energy assessors occur with employers in towns and cities throughout the UK.

Self-employment opportunities occur for qualified domestic energy assessors to set up in practice on a self-employed basis.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised on all the major job boards, and on the Government’s Find a Job service.

Entry routes and training

To get into this career, you’ll need to apply for one of the energy assessor training courses. You could also consider a level 3 certificate in domestic energy assessment.

Your training to become an energy assessor will depend on how much surveying experience you have, and also whether you have ever worked in a property-related role.

Some domestic energy assessors become self-employed.

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act: This career is an exception to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This means that you must supply information to an employer about any spent or unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings, if they ask you to. This is different from other careers, where you only have to reveal information on unspent convictions if you are asked to.

Qualifications

To get onto a relevant level 2 or level 3 training course, or apply for a job directly, you’ll typically need GCSEs in English and maths.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Many entrants will have skills and abilities gained in a related field, such as construction or surveying.

The Awarding Body for the Built Environment (ABBE) offers a Diploma in Domestic Energy Assessment for people who want to qualify as domestic energy assessors. A number of training providers offer relevant ABBE courses, via a combination of practical training and home study. See the ABBE website for a list of centres. Candidates with relevant qualifications can apply for Accreditation of Prior Achievement (APA), through an ABBE approved assessment centre.

Related careers

• Estate agent
• Estate manager
• Licensed conveyancer
• Surveyor