Communities and Local Government
A selection of images representing communities.
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- Planning, building and the environment
- The Environment
- Energy Performance of Buildings
- Guide to the measures
Guide to the measures
Home sellers and buyers
If the sale of your home needs a Home Information Pack, you will need an Energy Performance Certificate as part of the pack.
If you are buying an existing home that has a Home Information Pack, you should expect to find an Energy Performance Certificate as part of the pack provided to you by the seller. This will give you information about the energy efficiency of the home you are interested in purchasing. For more information on the introduction of Home Information Packs, see www.homeinformationpacks.gov.uk [External link].
EPCs will also be needed from October 2008 when homes are sold without requiring a Home Information Pack (for example, a non-marketed private sale between individuals, a portfolio sale of homes, or a Right to Buy sale to a social housing tenant).
From 1 October 2008, Energy Performance Certificates will also be required when homes are rented out. See section on Landlords below for further information.
Estate agents
If you providing written particulars for a property being marketed for sale, you will need to include the graphics showing the energy efficiency rating and the environmental impact rating for the property, or attach the Energy Performance Certificate (but not the Recommendation Report) to the particulars. Details of how the graphics in wriiten particulars should be displayed are set out in the Secretary of State's approval of the National Calculation Methodology.
Landlords and tenants
From 1 October 2008, if you are renting out your property, you will need to provide a certificate to any prospective tenant. There is no need to obtain a Energy Performance Certificate for an existing tenancy. Once obtained, a certificate remains valid for up to 10 years. If a valid Energy Performance Certificate still exists when changing tenants no new certificate is required. This applies to both private and social sector landlords and tenants.
Builders/Developers
It is likely that the more energy efficient properties will be more attractive to potential tenants and purchasers. It is clearly most cost-effective to design for energy efficiency rather than have to upgrade a property once it is constructed. Architects and other designers should therefore be encouraged to specify designs that are energy efficient.
As a builder or property developer you should be aware of the energy-efficiency measures being introduced. In particular, you are required to obtain a valid Energy Performance Certificate before the building control inspector issues a completion certificate. The completion certificate will not be issued if an Energy Performance Certificate has not been produced.
