As many of you will have seen in the weekly e-mails, Energy Performance Certificates will become mandatory for all new lets starting from 1st October 2008.

Some of the rules for this are still unclear as we have asked for clarification from Communities and Local Government responsible for this. What we can confirm is

1. It is mandatory for all new lets
2. An Energy Performance Certificate will be valid for 10 years
3. It can be renewed at any time should the landlord have carried out any work to improve the efficiency of the property
4. An EPC will not be required for a renewal of tenancy
5. We still await confirmation of the situation where one or more of a group of sharers change
6. It applies to all residential tenancies regardless of the tenure type
7. A landlord is not required to carry out any of the works suggested as a means of improving the property
8. An EPC will comment on any white goods left as part of the inventory of the property
9. An EPC must be available to any prospective tenant before they have committed to the property or have viewed the property
10. The tenant must be provided with a copy of the EPC before the start of a tenancy. This of course will require agents and landlords to be able to exhibit an EPC in September or even earlier if the tenancy does not start till 1st October or later. Care will therefore be required with student lets starting in October where the property may already have been reserved, as an EPC will be required before the start of the tenancy.
11. A landlord whose tenant is in receipt of Local Housing Allowance (Housing Benefit) may find that the tenant is eligible for a grant to have some of the works which would improve the efficiency of the property carried out. It is the tenant who is eligible but the landlord’s permission is required and may be withheld. There may be conditions attached to this and the local authority will provide guidance when application is made by the tenant.
12. A landlord carrying out certain works may be able to claim a Landlord’s Energy Saving Allowance by setting certain expenditure up to £1500 per property against their income tax. This is in addition to any other allowable expenditure.
13. An EPC is carried out by a domestic energy assessor. It is possible to have your own staff trained to the appropriate level. (Details available from the education department at Arbon House)
14. A guidance leaflet is being produced by Communities and Local Government which will be suitable for giving to your landlords. (Details will be included in the weekly e-mail. If you are not getting this as a member please e-mail with an e-mail address which will be the contact address for the member.)

Useful web links are www.est.org.uk/myhome.gid www.warmfront.co.uk In Wales: www.heeswales.co.uk

NOTE: The Scottish Parliament is not introducing a requirement for the equivalent of an EPC until 4th January 2009. We are currently attempting to get information as to the requirements and who can provide a certificate. We will advise as soon as we have the relevant information. www.sbsa.gov.uk/epc.htm