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.
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.
In addition, further changes took effect as from 1st October 2015 for new tenancies starting on or after that date. Landlords will now have to provide the EPC to tenants before they can rely on a section 21 notice.
Watch out for big changes to the requirements coming soon. Warren Anthony will keep all of our clients fully informed to give enough time to make the correct preparations.