Frequently Asked Questions

An EPC is intended to provide prospective buyers and tenants of a building with correct
information about the energy performance of the building and practical advice on
improving such performance.

An EPC provides an energy efficiency rating (related to running costs) for a building based
on the performance potential of the building itself (the fabric) and its services (such as
heating, insulation ventilation and fuels used). Not all buildings are used in the same way,
so the energy rating uses ‘standard occupancy’ assumptions which may be different from
the way the building is used.

An EPC includes recommendations on how the energy performance of the building can be
improved (to reduce running costs) together with an indication of the payback period.
There is no statutory requirement to carry out any of the recommended energy efficiency
measures stated

Any reference to a building includes a reference to a building unit in that building, except
where otherwise stated.

Existing buildings need an EPC when they are to be sold or rented out.

An EPC is valid for 10 years or until a newer EPC is produced for the same building no
matter how many times the property is sold or rented out during that period. Existing
occupiers and tenants will not require an EPC unless they sell, assign or sublet their
interest in a building.

A building offered for sale or rent, must include the energy performance indicator of the
building as shown on the EPC, for example C, in any advertisements in the commercial
media 

There is no requirement to display the full EPC

An EPC is generally not required where the seller or landlord can demonstrate that the
building is any of these:

 buildings protected as part of a designated environment or because of their special
architectural or historical merit are exempt from the requirements to have an
energy performance certificate insofar as compliance with minimum energy
performance requirements would unacceptably alter their character or appearance.
To comply with minimum energy performance requirements, many of the
recommendations in an EPC report e.g. double glazing, new doors and windows,
external wall insulation, and external boiler flues would likely result in unacceptable
alterations in the majority of historic buildings. These can include buildings protected
as part of a designated environment or because of their special architectural or
historical merit (e.g. listed buildings
or buildings within a conservation area). In these
cases an EPC would not be required.
Building owners will need to take a view as to whether this will be the case for their
buildings. If there is any doubt as to whether works would unacceptably alter the
character or appearance of a building, building owners may wish to seek the advice of
their local authority’s conservation officer.

 temporary buildings with a planned time of use of two years or less

 residential buildings which are intended to be used less than four months of the year
or where the owner or landlord could reasonably expect the energy consumption of
the building to be less than 25% of all year round use

 stand-alone buildings with a total useful floor area of less than 50m² (i.e. buildings
entirely detached from any other building)
A building is also exempt where the seller or landlord can demonstrate that:

 the building is suitable for demolition

 the resulting site is suitable for redevelopment

 all the relevant planning permissions, listed building consents and conservation
area consents exist in relation to the demolition, and

 in relation to the redevelopment, either outline planning or planning permission
exists and where relevant listed building consents exist
Holiday lets may not need an EPC. An EPC will only be required for a property rented out
as a furnished holiday let, as defined by HMRC, where the building is occupied for the
purposes of a holiday as a result of a short term letting arrangement of less than 31 days
to each tenant, and is rented out for a combined total of four months or more in any 12
month period, and if the occupier is responsible for meeting the energy costs for the
property