Why is a Domestic EPC required?
A Domestic EPC is intended to provide prospective buyers and tenants of a building with correct information about the energy performance of the building and practical advice on improving such performance.
A Domestic EPC provides an energy efficiency rating (related to running costs) for a building based on the performance potential of the building itself (the fabric) and its services (such as heating, insulation ventilation and fuels used). Not all buildings are used in the same way, so the energy rating uses 'standard occupancy' assumptions which may be different from the way the building is used.
A Domestic EPC includes recommendations on how the energy performance of the building can be improved (to reduce running costs) together with an indication of the payback period. There is no statutory requirement to carry out any of the recommended energy efficiency measures stated.
Why is a Domestic EPC required - Key Points
A DOMESTIC EPC is valid for 10 years and can be reused as many times as required within that period.
The regulations require a DOMESTIC EPC to be commissioned, if there is no valid DOMESTIC EPC for that building, before a building is put on the market.
Before marketing a building for sale or rent a person acting on behalf of the seller or landlord (for example, the estate or letting agent) must be satisfied that a DOMESTIC EPC has been commissioned for that building.
A DOMESTIC EPC must be produced by an accredited energy assessor who is a member of a government approved accreditation scheme.
All advertisements in the commercial media must clearly show the energy rating of the building (where this is available).
The regulations require a DOMESTIC EPC to be given free of charge to the person who becomes the buyer or tenant of the building.
A DOMESTIC EPC shows the energy efficiency rating on an A–G rating scale for a building
The DOMESTIC EPC includes recommendations on how to improve energy efficiency.
Which buildings require Domestic EPCs?
Any reference to a building includes a reference to a building unit in that building, except where otherwise stated.
Existing buildings need a Domestic EPC when they are to be sold or rented out.
A Domestic EPC is valid for 10 years or until a newer EPC is produced for the same building no matter how many times the property is sold or rented out during that period. Existing occupiers and tenants will not require A Domestic EPC unless they sell, assign or sublet their interest in a building.
A building offered for sale or rent, must include the energy performance indicator of the building as shown on the EPC, for example C, in any advertisements in the commercial media*. There is no requirement to display the full EPC.
- Commercial media includes: newspapers and magazines; written material produced by the seller/landlord/estate or letting agent that describes the building being offered for sale or rent, the internet.
Situations where a Domestic EPC is not required
A Domestic EPC is generally not required where the seller or landlord can demonstrate that the building is any of these:
- buildings protected as part of a designated environment or because of their special architectural or historical merit are exempt from the requirements to have an energy performance certificate insofar as compliance with minimum energy performance requirements would unacceptably alter their character or appearance.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS SITUATION IS FURTHER COMPLICATED BY MEES REGULATIONS PLEASE CALL TO DISCUSS YOUR SITUATION
- To comply with minimum energy performance requirements, many of the recommendations in a Domestic EPC report e.g. double glazing, new doors and windows, external wall insulation, and external boiler flues would likely result in unacceptable alterations in the majority of historic buildings. These can include buildings protected as part of a designated environment or because of their special architectural or historical merit (e.g. listed buildings2 or buildings within a conservation area). In these cases a Domestic EPC would not be required.
Building owners will need to take a view as to whether this will be the case for their buildings. If there is any doubt as to whether works would unacceptably alter the character or appearance of a building, building owners may wish to seek the advice of their local authority’s conservation officer.
- temporary buildings with a planned time of use of two years or less
- residential buildings which are intended to be used less than four months of the year or where the owner or landlord could reasonably expect the energy consumption of the building to be less than 25% of all year round use
- stand-alone buildings with a total useful floor area of less than 50m² (i.e. buildings entirely detached from any other building)
A building is also exempt where the seller or landlord can demonstrate that:
- the building is suitable for demolition
- the resulting site is suitable for redevelopment
- all the relevant planning permissions, listed building consents and conservation area consents exist in relation to the demolition, and
- in relation to the redevelopment, either outline planning or planning permission exists and where relevant listed building consents exist
Holiday lets may not need a Domestic EPC. A Domestic EPC will only be required for a property rented out as a furnished holiday let, as defined by HMRC, where the building is occupied for the purposes of a holiday as a result of a short term letting arrangement of less than 31 days to each tenant, and is rented out for a combined total of four months or more in any 12 month period, and if the occupier is responsible for meeting the energy costs for the property.
The property must meet all the conditions of a furnished holiday let as defined by HMRC and the occupant must not be responsible for the energy costs in order for A Domestic EPC not to be necessary.
A Domestic EPC is not required for an individual room when rented out, as it is not a building or a building unit designed or altered for separate use. The whole building will require a Domestic EPC if sold or rented out.
There are no other exemptions from the EPC obligations although there may be some transactions which do not qualify as a sale or renting out.
AS EPC EXEMPTIONS ARE A HIGHLY COMPLEX AREA PLEASE CONTACT YOUR GO LOCAL EPC Assessor TO DISCUSS YOUR SPECIFIC SITUATION
Production of Domestic EPC's
In general terms the Domestic EPC provided or made available should reflect the accommodation being sold or rented out. Some buildings will have multiple tenancies, differing lease agreements, various sub-letting arrangements and different uses (for example, a mixed use building containing office space and residential accommodation). This can affect the areas for which an EPC is needed. Any building unit which is sold or rented out must have a valid EPC.
A Domestic EPC can be produced for the whole building or any building unit, which is designed or altered for separate use. A building unit designed or altered for separate use could be indicated by the accommodation having its own access, separate provision of heating and ventilation or shared heating and ventilation, but with the ability by the occupier to independently control those services. An example might be a self-contained flat in a building.
YOU SHOULD CONTACT YOUR GO LOCAL EPC Assessor TO DISCUSS YOUR SPECIFIC SITUATION
Providing a Domestic EPC on marketing
Before a building is put on the market the seller or landlord must commission a Domestic EPC for the building if no valid EPC exists already for it. A person acting on behalf of the seller or landlord (for example, the estate or letting agent) must be satisfied that a Domestic EPC has been commissioned for the building before it is put on the market.
The seller or landlord or a person acting on their behalf must use all reasonable efforts to ensure the Domestic EPC is obtained within seven days. A further 21 days is allowed if after using all reasonable efforts the Domestic EPC cannot be obtained within seven days.
An estate or letting agent may on occasions provide a prospective buyer or tenant with a copy of the Domestic EPC. However, it remains the responsibility of the seller or landlord to make sure that a valid EPC has been given free of charge to the person who ultimately becomes the buyer or seller.
The energy performance indicator of the building as shown on the Domestic EPC, for example, C, must be stated in any advertisements in the commercial media. Failure to do so could result in a fine of £200 per advertisement.
YOU SHOULD CONTACT YOUR GO LOCAL EPC Assessor TO DISCUSS YOUR SPECIFIC SITUATION
Providing a Domestic EPC on sale or rent
When existing buildings are sold or rented out, the seller or landlord must make available a Domestic EPC at the earliest opportunity and no later than when a person:
- requests information about the building, the time at which the seller or landlord first makes available any information in writing about the building, or
- makes a request to view the building, the time at which the person views the building.
And must give, free of charge, a valid Domestic EPC to the person who ultimately becomes the buyer or tenant.
Transactions not considered a sale or rent
Domestic EPCs are required in all instances of sales or rent, except those set out in page 6 (Situations where a Domestic EPC is not required). However, not all transactions are considered to be a sale or let. These will include:
- lease renewals or extensions
- compulsory purchase orders
- sales of shares in a company, where buildings remain in company ownership
- lease surrenders
There may be other types of transaction that it might be argued do not require a Domestic EPC, for example, living accommodation at a workplace and tied to a job or not-for-value transactions, but this will depend on the individual circumstances of each case.
You should contact GO LOCAL EPC Assessor for advice regarding whether any specific activity is or is not sale or rent.
What is a Domestic EPC and what does it mean?
The Domestic EPC looks broadly similar to the energy labels provided on many household appliances. Its purpose is to indicate how energy efficient a building is. The Domestic EPC will provide an energy efficiency rating from A to G, where A is very efficient and G is the least efficient. The better the rating, the more energy efficient the building is, and the lower the fuel bills are likely to be.
Each energy efficiency rating is based on the characteristics of the building itself (the fabric) and its services (such as heating, ventilation and lighting). This type of rating is known as an asset rating. The asset rating will reflect the age and condition of the building.
The Domestic EPC includes recommendations to help owners and occupiers to improve the energy efficiency of a building. The recommendations include cost effective improvements and further improvements (that achieve higher standards but are not necessarily cost effective). For each recommendation the indicative cost, typical cost savings and the performance rating after improvement are listed. The potential rating shown on the EPC is based on all cost-effective recommendations being implemented.
The Domestic EPC will assess the energy efficiency of services which are present in the building. It will not comment on the safety aspects or maintenance of the services nor will the assessment confirm that the installed system is fit for purpose.
What a Domestic EPC contains
The regulations state the minimum information that a Domestic EPC must contain, including:
- The asset rating for the building;
- A reference value (benchmark);
- A recommendation report, unless there is no reasonable potential for energy performance improvements;
- The relevant reference number;
- The address of the building;
- An estimate of the building’s total useful floor area; and,
- The date on which it was issued.
YOU SHOULD CONTACT YOUR GO LOCAL EPC Assessor TO DISCUSS YOUR SPECIFIC SITUATION
How does the Domestic EPC calculate the energy performance of a building?
The energy rating of a building is a complex calculation which is based on a combination of factors:
- the type of building (i.e. flat, house or bungalow) and whether it is detached or not
- the age of the building
- the number of habitable rooms (excluding kitchens, bathroom hallways, stairs and landings)
- extensions and their construction and rooms in the roof
- the dimensions of the building and the number of floors
- the amount and type of glazing (i.e. single or double glazing)
- the material used to build the property (e.g. brick, stone, timber frame, etc.)
- wall insulation
- roof construction (e.g. flat, pitched) and insulation
- the number of chimneys and open flues
- the heating systems and the type of fuel used
The energy rating is adjusted for the floor area of a building so it is independent of size for a given type of building. The rating is calculated on the basis of standard occupancy to ensure that the results are consistent for similar building types and relate to the physical fabric of the building rather than the energy usage patterns of the individual occupant, which can vary appreciably between households.
The rating is independent of the number of people living in your household, how many domestic appliances you own (such as washing machines and refrigerators) and how efficient they are and how you choose to heat your home (i.e. individual temperature settings and how long it is heated during the day or night). This allows prospective buyers or tenants to compare the energy rating of buildings on a like for like basis.
What does a Domestic energy assessment involve
For existing buildings, the energy assessor must undertake a physical survey of the building to gather the appropriate information. For new buildings, the energy assessor will have accurate plans, specifications and other relevant information and a site visit is not required.
During the visit the energy assessor will need to access all the rooms, the boiler and the loft (if there is safe access). The assessor may take photographs of items, such as heaters and meters, and may take photographs of any unusual features in the building. The energy assessor may also photograph any area that cannot be accessed or visually inspected (for example, a fully boarded loft).
A visual inspection may not be possible for all features (for example, cavity wall or under floor insulation) and without supporting information and evidence, such as receipts, the energy assessor will not be able to include that feature in the EPC.
If access to inspect parts of the building is not possible, (for example, safe access to the loft to determine if it has been insulated), an assumption will be made about those features based on the age of the building. Energy assessors are not required to take unnecessary risks when undertaking an energy assessment.
Collecting the information required for an EPC
The energy assessor will need know about how the home has been built. Finding supporting information before the energy assessor visits will ensure you get the most accurate energy efficiency rating for your building. If you have up to date information this process will be less time consuming. The energy assessor is responsible for ensuring the information used in the energy calculations is accurate and, even where detailed plans are available for existing buildings, must validate the information provided.
The assessor will need to know:
- when the building was built (searches or deeds may provide evidence)
- whether or not the building has been extended and when
- if it has been double glazed, any certificates that may be available
- whether the walls have been insulated and if so whether this is cavity, internal or external insulation
- when boilers and hot water cylinders were installed and their make and model (any manuals may provide evidence)
- the location of room thermostats and heating timers
- the location of gas and electricity meters
- the type of heating fuel you use and the types of heating you use for your rooms
Once the assessment is completed the data is fed into a government-approved software programme. The software will produce the EPC and recommendations using the data collected.
Q: When do the minimum standard provisions come into force?
A: The minimum standard came into effect for new domestic tenancy agreements from 1 April 2018, and will apply to all tenancies (including long term tenancies) from 1 April 2020, unless a lawful exemption applies (see chapter four).
Q: What types of tenancies are covered by the Regulations?
A: The tenancy types are:
• An assured tenancy (including an assured short hold tenancy) as defined in the Housing Act 1988;
• A regulated tenancy defined in the Rent Act 1977; and
• A domestic agricultural tenancy as set out in the Energy Efficiency (Domestic Private Rented Property) Order 2015 (see section 1.1.2 Relevant Tenancies for more details).
Q: Are these Regulations UK-wide?
A These Regulations apply to properties rented in England and Wales only.
They do not apply to rental properties situated in Scotland or Northern Ireland.
Q: When do domestic private rented properties need to be at EPC E by?
A: All domestic private rented properties covered by the minimum standard Regulations (i.e. those which are legally required to have an EPC, and which are let on a relevant tenancy type – see Q 2 above) must be at a minimum of EPC band E by 1 April 2020 (or have a valid exemption registered for them). Between 1 April 2018 and 1 April 2020, properties will only need to meet the standard (or have a valid exemption registered) at the point at which a new tenancy is entered into. Where no new tenancy has been entered into (i.e. the property is being let on a tenancy entered into before April 2018), a domestic private rented property may be lawfully let below EPC band E up until 1 April 2020.
Q: My property is already above EPC F or G; do I need to do anything?
A: No. If a domestic private rented property is already above EPC F or G, then no action is required by the landlord.
Q: What is an EPC and when is it required?
A: Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are needed whenever an eligible property is constructed, or marketed for sale or let. Property owners must provide an EPC for potential buyers or tenants before marketing a property. This is a requirement of the Energy Performance of Buildings (England and
Wales) Regulations 2012. In addition, a landlord will be required to obtain an EPC after installing certain improvements before they let the property. This is a requirement of the Building Regulations 2010.
An EPC contains:
- information about a property’s energy use and typical energy costs,
- recommendations about how to reduce energy use and save money
An EPC for a domestic building gives the property an energy efficiency rating from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient) and is valid for ten years. The EPC relates to the property rather than to the owner, therefore an EPC obtained by a previous owner of the property will remain valid even after a property is sold on, so long as it is less than ten years old.
Q: How do I arrange an assessment in order to determine my property’s EPC rating and (if necessary what improvement works are needed to bring the minimum standard) who would perform the assessment?
A: You can search for an accredited assessor to undertake a domestic EPC assessment here34. Since 2008 all rental properties (with few exceptions) have been required to have a valid EPC before being let on a new tenancy. Therefore, you should already have an EPC for your rental property, and to not have one is unlawful. If you do not have an EPC for the property that you rent, you should make arrangements to obtain one immediately.
Q: How can I find out the current EPC rating for my property is?
A: If you don’t have your certificate to hand then you can search for a PDF copy using the property postcode here35.
Q: Are Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) excluded from the minimum standard Regulations?
A: HMOs are not excluded from the Regulations. The Regulations apply to all domestic private rented properties which are legally required to have an EPC, and which are let (including the letting of individual rooms) on a relevant tenancy type (see section 1.1.2). An HMO will be in scope where it meets these two criteria.
However, individual rooms within HMOs are not required to have their own EPC, so a property which is an HMO will only have an EPC if one is required for the property as a whole (typically this will be if the property has been build, sold or rented as a single unit at any time in the past 10 years). If an HMO is legally required to have an EPC, and if it is let on one of the qualifying tenancy types, then it will be required to comply with the minimum level of energy efficiency.
Q: I am a landlord who lets holiday cottages throughout the year. I do not know the basis on which these particular properties are let; am I still required to comply with the minimum standard Regulations?
A: Holiday cottages are typically let under a licence to occupy, rather than a tenancy. This type of rental property is, therefore, generally outside of the scope of the Regulations and not required to meet the minimum standard. If there are any concerns about whether a property is occupied under a licence or a tenancy, and whether the landlord is subject to the Regulations, legal advice should be sought.
Q: How long is an EPC valid for and when or what triggers reassessment?
A: Once produced, an EPC will be valid for ten years. A landlord can choose to commission a new EPC at any time for any reason, but this would be entirely voluntary. The only time a new EPC is legally required for a property is if the most recent certificate is more than ten years old, and the property is to be marketed for sale, or for rent to a new tenant.
Q: I am a landlord with multiple F or G rated properties. Is there any flexibility that would be shown to me due to the scale of works that I need to commission? Is there a limit on the number of properties that I would need to improve to EPC E?
A: No, all properties covered by the Regulations will need to comply and there is no limit on the number of properties a multi-property-owning landlord would be required to ensure are compliant. The amended Regulations are clear that landlords only need to undertake improvements which can be made either using third-party funding or for £3,500 (inc. VAT) or less if self-funding. If no improvements can be made under either of these scenarios, the landlord would need to register an exemption for that property rather than improve it to E. But, assuming that improvements can be made for £3,500 (inc. VAT) or less (even if this does not improve the property all the way to E), there is no limit to the number of sub-standard properties a landlord is required to improve.
However, landlords should note that between 1 April 2018 and 1 April 2020, properties only need to be improved to meet the standard when a new tenancy is entered into with a new or existing tenant. If a new tenancy has not been entered into during that period, then property may still be lawfully let below EPC E. Therefore, landlords with multiple properties would not necessarily need to improve all of their sub-standard properties at the same time and can phase improvement work over this two-year period as and when new tenancies are entered into.
Q: Are there any required measures or technologies which should be used to improve a property?
A: There are no specified materials or improvement measures; a landlord is free to do whatever they like with their property so long as the EPC rating can be raised to meet the minimum energy efficiency standard. The most accessible ready source of advice would be the recommended measures section on EPC for the property, but landlords can seek advice from other suitably qualified experts if they wish.
Q: Do I have to spend a fixed amount of money on improving the energy efficiency of my property? Do I have to spend £3,500?
A: No. A landlord is only required to make improvements to an EPC F or G rated property sufficient to improve that property to the minimum standard of EPC E using either: self-funding (capped at £3,500, inc. VAT); third-party funding (uncapped); or a combination of third-party and self-funding (capped at £3,500, inc. VAT). Third-party funding can come from a range of sources, primarily (but not limited to):
• Green Deal Finance,
• Local Authorities home energy efficiency grants,
• ECO help to heat funding,
If a property can be improved to E entirely through self-funding then the landlord will not need to incur any costs themselves. If the landlord does need to self-fund the improvements, and the property can be improved to E for less than £3,500, then that is all they will need to spend.
Q: Is the £3,500 cost cap inclusive of VAT?
A: Yes.
Q: Where can I find information on obtaining third-party finance to fund improvement works?
A: For general advice on energy efficiency funding, landlords should visit the government endorsed Simple Energy Advice service at:
https://www.simpleenergyadvice.org.uk/
A: Yes, provided the new supplier is a Green Deal approved supplier. All the big energy companies and many of the smaller ones are approved.
Q: I made some energy efficiency improvements to my property three or four years ago (although the property is still below EPC E). Can I take account of the costs of those improvements when working out how much I need to invest in improvements now?
A: No. The cost cap can only take account of the cost of energy efficiency improvements incurred since 1 October 2017, including where funding was obtained through a third-party and even where the recommended measure(s) installed did not improve the property to EPC E. Where energy efficiency improvements have been made since 1 October 2017, the landlord may subtract the cost of these previous energy efficiency improvements from the £3,500 limit (inclusive of VAT) to determine the value of the additional energy efficiency improvements they will be required to make.
Q: Don’t landlords have to get consent from their tenants before they can install measures? Is it right that tenants should be able to veto energy efficiency improvements in this way?
A: There is no requirement in the Regulations for a landlord to seek consent from a tenant to install energy efficiency measures where such a requirement does not already exist.
Depending on the terms of the tenancy agreement between an individual tenant and landlord (and all tenancies are different), the landlord may need to obtain tenant consent before undertaking certain works (energy efficiency related or otherwise). Where this requirement already exists, the minimum standard Regulations recognise that consent should be obtained before work is undertaken (alongside any other form of third-party consent, such as planning consent).
Between 1 April 2018 and 1 April 2020 landlords are only required to improve F or G rated properties before entering into a new or extended or renewed tenancy agreement. To do this, Government anticipates that many landlords will make improvements while a property is vacant between tenancies. Therefore, in many cases tenant consent may not be a consideration.
Q: If a landlord has managed to secure Green Deal finance but their sitting tenant withheld consent to it, is the landlord able to register a “tenant consent” exemption?
A: No. If a sitting tenant in a domestic property withholds consent to Green Deal finance, the landlord must seek alternative means of funding the improvement(s) - including self-funding.
Q: If a landlord is unable to access any third-party funding and none of the exemptions in the Regulations apply, is the landlord required to use their own funding to make the necessary improvements to their property?
A: Yes. From 1 April 2019, where third-party funding is unavailable or insufficient, a landlord must make a contribution capped at £3,500 (inc. VAT).
Landlords of EPC F or G properties who cannot access third-party funding must find funding from elsewhere (whether self-funding, loan, mortgage extension, etc) and ensure that energy efficiency improvements are made in order to improve these properties to EPC E, or as close as possible, up to a total cost of £3,500 (inc. VAT).
If an element of third-party funding is secured, this funding can be included within the value of the cap (see the worked examples in chapter two for more information on blending third-party funding with landlord self-funding).
Q: If a landlord has registered a “no cost to the landlord” exemption prior to the changes coming into force, is that exemption still valid for five years?
A: No. Following amendment of the Regulations, any “no cost to the landlord” exemption will now automatically end on 31 March 2020.
All landlords who have registered “no cost to the landlord” exemptions must make the necessary improvements (up to the value of the cap) to ensure their property meets the minimum energy efficiency standard (EPC E or as close as possible) by 1 April 2020, unless other exemptions or exceptions apply.
Q: What if it is not possible for my property to reach EPC E even though I have undertaken all possible improvement works?
A: The landlord may claim an exemption under section 25(1) of the
Regulations, where: “all the ‘relevant energy efficiency improvements’ for the property have been made but the property remains sub-standard”. The landlord must have installed as many recommended energy efficiency measures as possible to make progress towards EPC E (up to the value of £3,500). When registering the exemption, the landlord must provide details of the recommended improvement measures that have been installed.
Q: My property has solid walls and not cavity walls; will this give me an exemption from these Regulations?
A: There is no automatic exemption. If solid wall insulation has been recommended for the property and full or partial insulation can be installed for £3,500 (or less), or the landlord can obtain funding for the insulation, then they should take steps to have it installed. However, if this type of improvement work would risk harming the fabric or structure of the property then the landlord will be able to register an exemption. This exemption must be supported by a surveyor’s report stating that the wall insulation measure would damage the property. The landlord must also install any other relevant measures which would improve the property (unless a separate exemption applied to them).
Q: How long does an exemption last?
A: This depends on the specific exemption registered: the majority of exemptions run for five years, but several run for a shorter period. A full description of the exemptions and their lengths is set out in Chapter four. Q: How can I register an exemption? A: Landlords can register valid exemptions on the PRS Exemptions Register. The Register is an online platform and can be accessed at: https://prsregister.beis.gov.uk/NdsBeisUi/used-service-before Q: Can I register an exemption offline (without using the online portal)? A: The Register is a digital by default service, however if you need advice or assistance with registering an exemption, you can email PRSRegisterSupport@BEIS.gov.uk with your query. Alternatively, you can call on: 0333 234 3422. (Please note, the Assisted Digital service provides digital support in lodging an exemption on the Register, but it remains the responsibility of the landlord to ensure that their property meets the eligibility criteria for an exemption. The service is not able to provide advice on whether individual properties meet the criteria for an exemption.) Q: More than one type of exemption applies to my property. Do I have to register all of them? A: No. A landlord only needs to register one exemption for an individual property. If more than one exemption applies, the landlord may register whichever one they feel is most appropriate. Q: What happens to the information about landlords and properties that is captured and stored on the Register, will this information be available to the public or will it be confidential? A: Certain non-personal data placed on the Register will be viewable by the general public. Any personal data, along with all supporting evidence uploaded to the register, will be accessible to the relevant local enforcement authority only for enforcement purposes. |
Q: I have registered an exemption. When will I receive my exemption certificate?
A: Registration of an exemption will not generate an exemption certificate or other formal documentation. Landlords can check any live exemptions they have registered on the dashboard page of their Register user account. Details of an exemption can also be viewed by members of the public on the exemption search page here. This search page operates in place of a formal exemption certificate and can be used by anyone seeking proof that an exemption has been registered for a property.
Q: I have registered an exemption. When will the enforcement authority approve the exemption?
You do not need to wait to hear from your local enforcement authority. An exemption is valid from the day it is registered, and does not need to be approved by the enforcement authority.
However, enforcement authorities have powers to review and audit exemptions registered for property in their area, and may subsequently contact landlords if they have queries or concerns about any of the materials submitted to the Register (if they have no queries or concerns then it is likely that the landlord will not hear from them). There is no timeframe for this audit however, as enforcement bodies may review and request additional information from the landlord at any point during the life of an exemption (and up to 12 months after an exemption has expired – see chapter six).
Q: I have registered an exemption for my property. Does this mean that my property no longer requires an EPC, and I no longer need to provide new tenants with a copy of the EPC?
No. Your property will still be required to have an EPC just as it always was. An exemption on the Register is an exemption from the requirement for a property to meet the minimum energy efficiency standard. It is not an exemption from the requirement for that property to have an EPC, or from the requirement to provide the tenant with a copy of the EPC at the start of their tenancy.
An EPC is valid for 10 years and can be reused as many times as required within that period.
The regulations require an EPC to be commissioned, if there is no valid EPC for that building, before a building is put on the market.
Before marketing a building for sale or rent a person acting on behalf of the seller or landlord (for example, the estate or letting agent) must be satisfied that an EPC has been commissioned for that building.
An EPC must be produced by an accredited energy assessor who is a member of a government approved accreditation scheme.
All advertisements in the commercial media must clearly show the energy rating of the building (where this is available).
The regulations require an EPC to be given free of charge to the person who becomes the buyer or tenant of the building. An EPC shows the energy efficiency rating on an A–G rating scale for a building
The EPC includes recommendations on how to improve energy efficiency.
Select button for EPC Type and Postcode, then hit the "Find Assessors" button. The search the page will then display assessors in your area
If you are a professional Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA) or Commercial Energy Assessor (NDEA) and are committed to providing a professional, value-based service to clients then you should consider joining the GO LOCAL EPC Alliance.
The aims of the organisation are straightforward and simple -
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THE DOMESTIC PRIVATE RENTED PROPERTY MINIMUM STANDARD
Guidance for landlords and Local Authorities on the minimum level of energy efficiency required to let domestic property under the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015, as amended.
This section is a distillation of the published Government regulations and was correct at the time of incorporating within the GO LOCAL EPC site. For a copy of the full original document please select this link THE DOMESTIC PRIVATE RENTED PROPERTY MINIMUM STANDARD. This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated.
GO LOCAL EPC
Welcome to the home of "Go Local EPC". This is an alliance of independent EPC Assessors, who are both fully accredited by the Government and insured to undertake this most important assessment. Whilst at one level you have to have an EPC in order to sell, rent, or lease your property more importantly a poor EPC can affect its value. The members of "Go Local EPC" are experienced and knowledgeable producing quality reports that can support you in a positive manner.
There are NO fees or charges for using this, your price won't increase. You are dealing directly with your "Go Local EPC" only paying what you agree with them.
Select button for EPC Type and Postcode, then hit the "Find Assessors" button. The search the page will then display assessors in your area