In a move that may or may not be welcomed by agents, lenders say all homes, not just those being sold or rented, should have an EPC.

In response to the Government’s consultation process on changes to EPCs, mortgage trade body UK Finance is calling for all homes to have an EPC rating which could help reduce estate agents’ bureaucratic burden.

The trade body says that although significant progress has been made on assessing the EPC rating of the housing stock since the introduction of EPCs in 2007, many homes still do not have one.

Energy performance

By making them compulsory for all homes the Government would get a better understanding of the energy performance of the entire housing stock.

It would also mean estate agents would no longer have to police the issue so tightly and nor – in theory – would missing EPCS delay getting properties onto the market any more.

Agents, though, will be less pleased to hear that UK Finance also says EPCs are likely to get more frequent and complicated and is warning regulators not to turn the transition period into a nightmare.

Government should offer guidance to firms to navigate that gap in a consistent manner.”
“We are concerned,” the industry body says, “About the de facto gap in EPC validity that is likely to emerge during the transition to the (new) Home Energy Model. In advance of this, Government should offer guidance to firms to navigate that gap in a consistent manner.”

The consultation ran until 26 February 2025 and the Government says any changes will be introduced in the second half of 2026.

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