When is an EPC needed?
Where a dwelling is being let an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) will be required.
An EPC is required as follows:-
- Individual house/dwelling (i.e. a self contained property with its own kitchen/bathroom facilities) &- one EPC for the dwelling.
- Self contained flats (i.e. each behind its own front door with its own kitchen/bathroom facilities) - one EPC per flat.
- Bedsits or room lets where there is a shared kitchen, toilet and/or bathroom (e.g. a property where each room has its own tenancy agreement) – No EPC is required.
- Shared flats/houses (e.g. a letting of a whole flat or house to students/young professionals etc on a single tenancy agreement) - one EPC for the whole house.
- Mixed self contained and non self contained accommodation - one EPC for each self contained flat/unit but no EPC for the remainder of the property.
- A room in a hall of residence or hostel - no EPC is required.
There are fixed penalties for failing to provide an EPC/make one available when required. The fixed penalty for dwellings is £200 per dwelling. There is a six month time limit for any enforcement action to be taken.
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What changes have been made?
Changes took effect as from the 9th January 2013 as follows:-
- Property advertisements must contain the asset rating ie. the EPC rating for the property and the SAP rating where an EPC is available.
- The requirement for Property Particulars to be accompanied by a copy of the first page of the EPC has been scrapped. However, these must show the EPC rating and the SAP rating for the property if an EPC is available.
- It is intended that listed buildings and ancient monuments should be excluded from the need for an EPC but it is doubtful that the wording of the relevant exemption achieves this.