How Easy Software Makes Our EPC Reporting Faster and More Accurate for Manchester Properties
When we tell landlords and property managers that we can give them their EPC rating before leaving the property, the reaction is usually surprise. Many have experienced the old process: an assessor visits with a clipboard, scribbles measurements and observations onto paper forms, goes back to the office, enters the data into a desktop computer, waits for the calculation, then emails the certificate days later. Mistakes creep in during manual transcription, and by the time the result arrives you have forgotten half the conversation about improvements.
We do it differently. Our accredited Domestic Energy Assessors carry Easy software on a tablet and complete the entire assessment — data capture, RdSAP calculation, improvement modelling and certificate lodgement — digitally, on site, in real time. This article explains what Easy software is, how our engineers use it in the field, and why it matters for the accuracy and speed of your EPC.
What Is Easy Software?
Easy is a DCLG-approved RdSAP and SAP energy assessment platform used by domestic energy assessors across the UK. It runs the Reduced Data Standard Assessment Procedure (RdSAP) — the government-approved methodology for rating existing dwellings — and generates certificates that are lodged directly on the national EPC Register.
What makes Easy particularly effective for field use is that it runs on tablets and mobile devices, not just desktop computers. The assessor enters data room by room as they walk through the property, and the software validates entries in real time — flagging missing fields, inconsistent combinations (such as a loft insulation depth that does not match the roof type) and data that falls outside expected ranges. This built-in validation catches errors that a paper-based process would miss entirely.
How Our Assessors Use Easy on Site
Here is what a typical EPC assessment looks like when our DEA arrives at a Manchester property:
Arrival and property overview. The assessor opens a new assessment in Easy, enters the property address (auto-populated from the EPC Register where a previous certificate exists) and selects the property type — terraced house, semi-detached, flat, etc. They note the approximate age, which Easy uses to apply default U-values for the building fabric where measured data is not available.
Room-by-room inspection. Working through the property, the assessor records each element directly into Easy:
- Wall construction and insulation — the assessor taps the wall type from a menu (cavity, solid, timber frame) and enters the insulation status (filled, unfilled, internal insulation, external insulation, none).
- Roof and loft — insulation type and depth in millimetres, measured with a ruler at the loft hatch.
- Floor construction — suspended timber, solid concrete, insulated or uninsulated.
- Heating — boiler make, model and fuel are entered; Easy cross-references the PCDB (Product Characteristics Database) to pull the exact efficiency figure for that model.
- Hot water — system type, cylinder size, insulation type and thermostat presence.
- Windows — glazing type, frame material, and proportion of each type if mixed.
- Lighting — count of low-energy fittings versus total fittings.
- Renewables — solar PV capacity, heat pump type, or other renewable generation if present.
Real-time rating calculation. Once all data is entered, the assessor taps "calculate" and Easy runs the full RdSAP assessment — typically in under five seconds. The current energy rating, the potential rating (with all recommended improvements applied), and the estimated annual energy cost appear on screen.
Improvement modelling. This is where Easy adds the most value for landlords. The assessor can toggle individual improvements on and off — add loft insulation, replace the boiler, upgrade to LEDs — and see the rating change instantly. If a landlord standing in the hallway asks "what do I need to spend to reach band C?", the assessor can answer with figures, not guesswork. We routinely run three or four scenarios during a single visit.
Certificate generation and lodgement. When the assessment is complete, Easy generates the full EPC document — the rating chart, the environmental impact score, the estimated energy costs and the recommendations report — and lodges it on the national EPC Register electronically. The certificate reference number is confirmed on screen. A PDF is emailed to the landlord, usually within 24 hours of the visit.
Why Digital On-Site Reporting Matters
Accuracy
The single biggest source of EPC errors is manual transcription — data scribbled on paper and re-entered into a computer later. A misread insulation depth, a transposed boiler model number or a wrong window count can shift the rating by several SAP points, sometimes enough to move it across a band boundary. Easy eliminates this risk by capturing data directly into the calculation engine with real-time validation.
Speed
A paper-based process adds days between the site visit and the certificate. Our Easy-based workflow delivers the lodged certificate within 24 hours — and the rating itself is visible on site before the assessor leaves. For landlords who need an EPC urgently (a tenancy is about to start, a sale is progressing, a letting agent needs the certificate for a listing), that speed is critical.
Transparency
When the assessor shows you the rating on screen and walks you through the recommendations, you understand exactly what drives the score and what changes it. There is no black-box delay where you wonder what the result will be. You see it, ask questions about it, and plan improvements around it — all during the same visit.
Consistency
Easy enforces the RdSAP methodology consistently across every assessment. Whether the property is a one-bed flat in Ancoats or a five-bed terrace in Rochdale, the same validated process applies, producing comparable and reliable results.
How Easy Integrates with Our Wider Compliance Workflow
EPC assessments are one part of a landlord's compliance programme. Our team manages EPCs alongside EICRs, gas safety, PAT testing and fire safety for landlords and agents across Greater Manchester. Easy's digital output integrates cleanly with the rest of our workflow:
- EPC certificates are stored digitally, linked to the property address, and included in the compliance packs we provide to portfolio landlords and agents.
- Recommendations from the EPC feed directly into our improvement advice, cross-referenced with the EICR findings (for example, if the EICR identifies an outdated consumer unit, we can recommend upgrading to a unit with an integrated SPD at the same time as an energy-motivated boiler upgrade).
- Renewal reminders are triggered from the lodgement date, so the 10-year EPC expiry is tracked alongside the 5-year EICR and the annual gas safety check.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Easy software?
Easy is a DCLG-approved energy assessment platform that runs the RdSAP calculation for domestic properties. Our assessors use it on tablets to complete the entire EPC process — data capture, rating calculation, improvement modelling and certificate lodgement — on site and digitally.Can you really give me my rating during the visit?
Yes. Easy calculates the RdSAP rating in real time once all property data is entered. The assessor shows you the result on screen before leaving the property.Is the certificate lodged on the same day?
The certificate is lodged on the national EPC Register electronically, usually within 24 hours of the visit. The PDF is emailed to you at the same time.Can the assessor model improvements for me on site?
Yes. Easy allows the assessor to toggle individual improvements and see the rating change instantly. We routinely run multiple scenarios during a single visit to help you find the most cost-effective upgrade path.Does using Easy make the EPC more accurate?
Yes. Direct data entry with real-time validation eliminates the transcription errors that affect paper-based assessments. The software also cross-references boiler models against the official Product Characteristics Database for precise efficiency figures.Book a Digital EPC Assessment in Manchester
Manchester Compliance provides fully digital EPC assessments using Easy software for landlords, letting agents and homeowners across Greater Manchester. Same-day rating, on-site improvement modelling and rapid certificate lodgement — all from an accredited Domestic Energy Assessor.
- Phone: 0161 706 1360 (Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM)
- Email: Info@manchestercompliance.co.uk
- Address: 25 Holden Clough Drive, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL7 9TH
- Price: From £85 + VAT per property