Coronavirus (COVID-19): Energy Performance Certificates
The government has today issued advice as follows:
For domestic and non-domestic building owners, including landlords, sellers and freeholders
An EPC is a legal requirement when a property is sold, let or constructed and must be completed by an accredited assessor using standard assessment procedures.
Advice for people to stay at home and away from others means that you should not invite unnecessary visitors into your home, or into those you let to tenants.
Where a property is occupied, parties must endeavour to agree that the transaction can be delayed, so that an EPC assessment can proceed when stay-at-home measures to fight coronavirus (COVID-19) are no longer in place.
If moving is unavoidable and the parties are unable to reach an agreement to delay, and a valid EPC is not available from the register, an assessment may need to be conducted. In these circumstances, government guidelines on staying away from others to minimise the spread of the virus must be followed alongside the guidance for carrying out work in people’s homes.
EPC assessments can continue in cases where your property is vacant.
Landlords should also see further information on coronavirus (COVID-19) and the enforcement of standards in rented properties.
No assessments should take place if any person in the property is showing symptoms, self-isolating or being shielded – if securing an EPC is critical you should seek to reschedule your appointment when it is safe to do so in accordance with Government guidelines on staying away from others.
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Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards -1 April 2020
The Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales)
Regulations 2015 introduce measures to improve the energy efficiency
of private rented property under the Energy Act 2011.
Part Two of these Regulations allow the tenant of a private rented
property to request permission from their landlord to make energy
efficiency improvements in the property they rent.
Part Three of the Regulations outline that private sector landlords must
not grant a new tenancy of a property (including an extension or renewal),
nor continue to let the property (on an existing tenancy) after 1 April
2020, where the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is below the
minimum level of energy efficiency for private rented properties of band E.