Energy Performance Certificates

Energy Performance Certificates (EPC’s) provide an assessment of how energy efficient a property is and how well it uses the energy with which it is supplied.  Landlords must make an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) available to prospective tenants as part of the lettings process.  The EPC, which is valid for 10 years, will rate the property’s energy performance and make recommendations about how to improve its efficiency.
energy performance certificate

It is an offence to market a property without a valid certificate and failure to provide the EPC to your tenant can in some instances affect the landlord’s ability to recover possession of the property at a later date.   Pure Lettings can arrange an EPC to ensure you as landlord meet the regulations.  The cost of the certificate is £90 inc VAT, however, remember this is valid for 10 years!

Recent legislative changes mean that from April 2020 all properties let on Assured Shorthold Tenancies (AST’s) – new lettings and existing – need to meet a minimum EPC rating of E or above. This applies to ALL LETTINGS. Landlords, therefore, need to ensure they have a valid, in date, certificate with an E rating or above. If the property falls short of an E rating works (up to a maximum cost of £3500) must be carried out to improve the rating. Financial penalties can be imposed for non-compliance and landlords may also lose their ability to rely upon S21 of the housing act to regain possession of their property. In limited circumstances,, financial assistance can be obtained to improve the energy performance of your property.   In a limited number of cases, certain properties may meet the exemption from improvement criteria (Listed buildings for example), however, this is quite rare.

Please contact us if you have any questions about the EPC requirements and Residential Lettings.