One of the important areas of the recent strategies for tackling climate changes
is the European Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings or EPBD. As around 50% of all carbon emissions in the UK actually come from buildings it is vital that the energy performance of all buildings is known. By introducing the Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) for buildings it is hoped that energy efficiency will become much more transparent, making everyone aware of the environmental impact of the buildings that they live in and work in.
Article 7 of the European Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings is concerned with EPCs for buildings. It states that any building which is due to be constructed, sold or rented must have, by law, a valid EPC produced for it. This then needs to be made available to any potential buyers or tenants who are interested in that property.
When an EPC is produced for a rented property it is then valid for a period of ten years. In addition to the EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) the Energy Assessor who produces the certificate will also produce a Recommendation Report. This report will contain information on how to improve the energy efficiency of the building and it will also detail steps on how this can be achieved. Landlords need to be aware however that these recommendations do not have to be acted upon, as this is down to the landlord to decide upon.
These rulings however do not cover Northern Ireland and Scotland who have their own responsibilities to translate these laws into their own countries and pass them on to landlords.
For more information on the laws regarding EPCs for landlords you should speak to a specialist service such as CR Energy who will be happy to assist you.