The Government launches EPC consultation on energy performance certificates in buildings.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy are seeking evidence on how EPCs are currently performing against three attributes, including quality, availability and encouraging action to improve energy efficiency.

The EPC consultation, which can be accessed on the Government’s website here, is inviting responses by the 19th October 2018.

Change in the law

EPC’s are used to measure the energy performance of buildings. As of 1st April 2018, it is now a legal requirement for any properties rented out in the private rented sector to normally have a minimum energy performance rating of E on an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).

The regulations apply for new lets and renewals of tenancies with effect from 1st April 2018 and will apply to all existing tenancies on 1st April 2020. This means it will be unlawful to rent a property which breaches the requirement for a minimum E rating, unless there is an applicable exemption.

The new consultation documents published today  outline suggestions from the Government on improvements that could be made, with the Government stating that additional ideas are welcome.

Responses to PRS Energy Efficiency Levels Consultation published

In addition to this new consultation, the Government has also published a summary of responses to the consultation that was run; ‘PRS Energy Efficiency Levels Consultation’.

Overall there were 198 formal responses to this consultation, and the majority of the consultation responses were supportive of the government’s key proposal to amend the domestic minimum standard regulations to introduce a capped landlord contribution element.

However, there was some disagreement over the proposed level of the cap and a number of other specific proposals, with a range of views expressed on these issues.

The formal Government response, which will set out the Government’s position on the issues raised by respondents, will be published later on in the year.

Written by Victoria Barker

Blog Post from Residential Landlords Association

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