Energy Performance Certificates
From October 1st 2008 landlords offering property for rent will be required by law to provide prospective tenants with an Energy Performance Certificate for their property.
The certificates (EPCs) will have to be provided free either when (or before) any written information about the property is provided to prospective tenants or a viewing is conducted.
A new certificate does not need to be provided on each let and the EPC remains valid for 10 years.
The requirement is being introduced to comply with EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) which applies to all property, including rented property. This became law in 2003 and allowed until 2009 for full implementation, mainly to allow time to meet the shortfall in energy assessors at that time.
These directives have been introduced into English and Welsh law along with the more heavily advertised but controversial Home Information Packs (HIP’s). An EPC forms part of that HIP’s pack and can be used in conjunction with other information if a HIP is required in the future.
We will soon be contacting all our landlords to explain further these new requirements and to offer a competitive rate to supply these certificates.