What is an Energy Performance Certificate?

Regularly referred to as an EPC, the Energy Performance Certificate was introduced by the UK government in an attempt to undertake periodic audit of the UK’s built environment and to assess its energy efficiency and nudge/require* property owners to improve the energy efficiency of their property.

A property owner must have a valid EPC whenever a property is built, sold or let.

An Energy Performance Certificate contains:

• information about a property’s energy use and typical energy costs
• recommendations about how to reduce energy use and save money
• An EPC gives a property an energy efficiency rating from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient) and is valid for 10 years.

At present, the following buildings do not require an EPC:

• Places of worship
• Temporary buildings that will be used for less than 2 years
• Stand-alone buildings with total useful floor space of less than 50 square metres
• Industrial sites, workshops and non-residential agricultural buildings that don’t use a lot of energy
• Some buildings that are due to be demolished
• Holiday accommodation that’s rented out for less than 4 months a year or is let under a licence to occupy
• Listed buildings - you should get advice from your local authority conservation officer if the work would alter the building’s character
• Residential buildings intended to be used less than 4 months a year
• Unsafe properties

*Current regulations relating to EPCs include prohibition of the renting of property that does not have an energy rating of band E or better. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in significant fines of up to £5,000.

Related article:

• Where can I get an Energy Performance Certificate?