Foreword

The EU Directive on the energy performance of buildings (the Directive) came into effect progressively from 2007. Its implementation remains an important part of the strategy to tackle climate change. The current requirements are set out in the Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012, which came into effect on 9 January 2013, although they have been amended since, and the Building Regulations 2010.

The principle underlying the Directive and the regulations is to make energy efficiency of buildings transparent by using an energy performance certificate (EPC), to show the energy rating of a building, when sold or rented out and recommendations on how to improve energy efficiency.

This guidance covers only the requirements of the Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012 (‘the regulations’) regarding buildings designed for residential use. It does not cover buildings designed for commercial or non-domestic use (see separate guidance on Energy Performance Certificates for the construction, sale and let of non-dwellings.

This guidance does not cover the requirement in the Building Regulations 2010 for an energy performance certificate to be produced on the construction of a building or on the modification of an existing building so that it has a greater or lesser number of parts designed for separate use than it has before modification). Also where this guidance uses the word ‘building’ this includes (unless otherwise stated) a reference to ‘building unit’. Definitions of these terms and others are set out in the Glossary (see Annex A).

This guidance is intended to help sellers and landlords to understand their responsibilities for making an EPC available when selling or renting out a building, what buyers or tenants should expect when they begin the process of buying or renting a building and when an EPC is required.

This guidance aims to explain how the requirements work in practice and any interpretation of the regulations is offered only as a guide. The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) cannot provide legal advice. Therefore, it is important to read and understand the regulations. It will be for individuals themselves to take a view on whether or not they fall within the requirements of the regulations and in cases of doubt should seek their own legal advice.

This document replaces any previous guidance for buildings that are dwellings. The guidance is part of a suite of documents that explain the energy performance requirements for buildings in England and Wales only. Buildings in Northern Ireland and Scotland are subject to separate regulatory requirements and are not covered by or referred to in this guidance.

Key points

• 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.
• The EPC may also include information showing which of the recommendations would be eligible for finance under the Green Deal scheme, if they were carried out (see more details on the Green Deal).