Changes will be made to the EPBD Regulations on 6 April 2012. The summary of the changes to the EPBD Regulations are as follows:

• The changes will extend the current requirements to commission an EPC that apply to residential buildings to all residential and non residential buildings when sold or rented out

• The requirements for the provision of an EPC with written particulars will be extended to all buildings sold or rented out and the option to attach the asset rating will be removed. The requirement will only extend to the first page of the EPC 

• The requirement for the statutory lodgement of air conditioning inspection reports onto the Central  Register


Further guidance

We are awaiting final guidance from DCLG but can share some further information that we have been advised about so far. We will write again with further news or amendments as soon as these become available:

• Hard copy of particulars must include a physical copy of the first page of the EPC for properties brought to market on or after 6th April – if the property is on the market prior to the 6th April, then the new requirements do not apply

• If a property comes to market on or after 6th April, but has an existing (old style) EPC, then this can be used to satisfy the Regulations – again the first page needs to be attached to particulars

• The requirement for attaching the first page of the EPC applies to all particulars (there is not a definition of particulars but basically it is what you would expect – not the small advert in the newspaper, but anything handed out by the sales or letting agent) for all buildings (dwellings and non-dwellings) being offered for sale or rental

• Online particulars can either include a scan of the first page of the EPC or can include a link to a service that Landmark is expected to provide. This will always link to the latest EPC for the property (whether new or old style)

• It is expected that Landmark will provide a service for property agents that allows them to retrieve page 1 of the EPC with the option of a redacted version (i.e. no address) for Non Domestic EPCs. We will confirm this as soon as we have been given further news

• The address redaction service is only available for non-dwellings.  Where present, the full property address must be shown on the first page of EPC attached to particulars as well as the full EPC which has to be made available to prospective buyers or tenants on request. 

• The changes to the responsible person rules for non-dwellings effectively bring the responsibility into line with the rules for dwellings and mean that the sales or letting agent is liable for ensuring that an EPC is procured and the information is made available to prospective buyers or tenants.  


Information from NHER Accreditation Scheme. More can be found here

The new Energy Performance Certificates will be issued from 6th April 2012. 

Following market research and comsumor group studies the new EPC has been redesigned to be simpler to read and easier to understand. The revised EPC's will also  contain additional information on The Green Deal, alternative measures and Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) calculation returns.


New rules also require the first page of the EPC to be included on marketing material rather than just the Asset Rating (Graph)  which is used at the moment.

Full Details of the 2001 Energy Act are contained here.
The flagship policy in the Bill is the 'Green Deal', a scheme whereby householders, private landlords and businesses would be given finance upfront to make energy efficiency improvements, which would then be paid for by energy bill savings. It also introduces a range of other provisions.

Key areas

• establishes a new obligation on energy companies to help certain groups of consumers, who need extra support, with saving energy
• facilitates the roll-out of smart meters
• widens access to energy performance certificates
• makes information on energy bills clearer
• introduces measures designed to help improve energy security and to encourage low carbon generation
• grants additional powers to the Coal Authority to charge for certain services. 

Of interest to both landlords and tenants is the plan to make renting out a residential or business premise unlawful if it doesn't reach a minimum energy efficiency standard. This is proposed to be set at an EPC rating of Band E.