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Prices for energy performance certificates are showing huge variations, property clients claim, with quotes varying between 拢2,000 and 拢15,000 for a 15,000m2 building, according to one engineering consultancy.

A senior engineer from the consultancy said prices were 鈥渇luctuating wildly鈥�. He added: 鈥淚t appears that some assessors are putting out quotes on a purely speculative basis with no real thought in it.鈥�

The building concerned was about 20 years old with a more-than-average amount of ready information. 鈥淎ssessors at either end of the spectrum probably don鈥檛 know what they鈥檙e doing,鈥� the engineer said.

Steve Barlow, senior manager at environmental and energy consultancy Environ, said one possible explanation for variations was that the market was still trying to understand what was needed and what clients expected. Also, assessors were still evaluating the amount of time needed to produce EPCs. Barlow, who is studying for qualified assessor status, said: 鈥淯p-to-date drawings that show the actual installation will definitely ensure a lower price.鈥� Environ quotes from 拢1,500 to more than 拢10,000 for an EPC, depending on drawings and information given.

Barlow added that as more software packages became available and assessors grew familiar with them, 鈥渢ime taken to do an assessment will fall, along with the price鈥�. A shortage of assessors could be another reason for high prices. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an embryonic market and we probably need about 1,000 assessors,鈥� Barlow said.

Stefan Desormeaux, of CB Richard Ellis, said there was nothing to suggest prices would fall soon. 鈥淏ut that doesn鈥檛 mean it won鈥檛 happen in the future as more buildings come up for sale or rent.鈥�