Start with the address
Find the existing certificate and check that it identifies the correct dwelling. An earlier report may relate to another flat, an older layout or an instruction that answered a different question.
Search the project file
Look for records of insulation, glazing, heating and later alterations. Separate evidence for the original building from evidence for an extension. The assessor needs to know which feature a document supports.
Bring what you have
There is no reason to dismantle a finished room or remove equipment covers. Share the available records, mention gaps and explain access restrictions before the visit. The assessment must follow the property and acceptable evidence, rather than an assumed upgrade.
A short preparation list
- Find the current EPC, if there is one.
- Gather records of heating, insulation and alterations.
- Arrange normal access to the agreed rooms and equipment.
- Tell us about a keyholder, restricted areas or shared services.
Share what is available and explain anything that cannot be accessed safely. Leave equipment covers, gas fittings and unsafe spaces untouched.
Before the instruction is agreed
Check that the full address, work and expected output match the property. Say whether the assessment concerns one unit, several dwellings or a shared system. A previous report can be useful without proving that the new instruction has the same scope.
Keep a note of the questions still to resolve: the evidence needed, professional role, access arrangements and whether follow-up work is separate. Ask the team to explain a gap before attendance rather than relying on an assumption.
Put the next step in the right place
Use the service brief for the included output and exclusions. Use the booking or quotation form for the property details. Keep the eventual assessment with the address records; this guide is preparation material rather than a report on the building.