What are Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)?

EPCs look similar to the energy labels found on domestic appliances. The energy efficiency and environmental impact of a property will be rated and current running costs for heating, hot water and lighting will be shown on the certificate. The EPC gives prospective tenants information on the energy efficiency and carbon emissions of a building.



The EPC will also contain a recommendation report which will suggest improvements and the approximate cost and possible cost savings per year if they are made. A landlord does not have to act on the recommendations in the report

EPCs can only be produced following a survey by an accredited Domestic Energy Assessor, they will feed the information into a government approved software package to produce the EPC

All EPCs must be registered by the energy assessor and stored in the national register at www.ndEPCregister.com with a unique reference number

Requirements

From 1 st October 2008 all rental properties with a new tenancy will be required to have an EPC

The Landlord is responsible for providing the EPC

There is no need to obtain an EPC for an existing tenancy or when that tenancy is renewed and if a valid Energy Performance Certificate still exists when changing tenants no new certificate is required

An EPC remains valid for 10 years unless a material change takes place for example extensions, double glazing, heating system change, changes to loft and cavity wall insulation

A valid EPC and recommendation report is required when a property is being marketed and must be made available free of charge by the landlord/agent to a prospective tenant at the earliest opportunity. As a minimum, this should be when applicants are first given written information about a property or are arranging to view it, and before a rental contract is entered into.

Made ‘available’ means that the document must be made available for inspection, it is not necessary to provide a copy at this stage; an electronic copy is acceptable as long as the applicant consents.

A copy must be given to the person who ultimately becomes the tenant before any rental contract is entered into.

Penalties

There is a duty for the Landlord to provide the EPC. If any new let after 1 st October does not have an EPC then the Landlord will be subject to a £200 fine. This is enforced by trading standards.