Energy Performance Certificates: guide

Requirements

The Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2008 set out the regulations related to EPCs. An EPC must be produced:

• when a new building has been constructed (at the completion stage of the building warrant process)
• when a building is to be sold
• when a building is to be let to a new tenant

These requirements apply to both homes (or domestic buildings), and non-domestic buildings.

Any commercial sales or letting advert for a building must include the EPC rating, or ‘energy performance indicator’. This must also be provided to anyone to enquires about buying or leasing the building. For a home or domestic building, this is the Energy Efficiency Rating. For a non-domestic building, this is the Energy Performance Rating. 

An EPC must also be obtained and displayed in a building over 250 m² in area, which is occupied by a public authority and frequently visited by the public. The EPC is valid for 10 years and does not have to be updated during this time. If improvements have been made the building owner may choose to update the EPC, particularly if the building is to be sold or re-let.

Other government policies or schemes may also use EPCs for other purposes. These policies or schemes may have different requirements.

Penalties

Building owners who fail to provide an EPC or do not include the rating when advertising the building could be subject to a penalty charge notice (minimum £500) in each case.