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Latest in LettingsIssue 12

Energy Performance Certificates - Epcs

This issue of Latest In Lettings sets out the key points of Energy Performance Certificates which come into effect on 1st October this year. We have been advised that government guidelines will be issued closer to the 'trigger' date and will bring these to you as soon as they are available.

• From 1st October 2008 landlords/agents offering property to let under all forms of residential tenancies - Assured Shortholds, Common Law and Company Lets - will be
• required by law to provide prospective tenants with an EPC for that property
• EPCs do not need to be provided in respect of tenancies dated prior to 1st October if the tenants are in occupation before that date, or any extension of such tenancies agreed in writing or through becoming a periodic tenancy.
• EPCs must be provided free to any prospective tenant before they have viewed or committed to the property.
• EPCs are carried out by Domestic Energy Assessors who must be a member of an authorised Accreditation Scheme.
• EPCs will have a life of ten years and may be amended if a landlord carries out improvement works that increase energy efficiency.
• Original EPCs will be stored at the Landmark Registry. Trading Standards officers have access to the Registry.
• A Penalty charge of £200 may be imposed by Enforcement Agencies which can be levied at £200 per day for the period a property is marketed without an EPC in place.
• The Landlords Energy Saving Allowance (LESA) allows a spend of up to £1500 per property on such items as:
• loft, floor, cavity and solid wall insulation
• draught proofing
• hot water system insulation

This outlay can be deducted from rental income and is therefore wholly tax deductible until 2015.

For more information on EPCs go to:

Communities.Gov Website
Residential Property Investor May/June Issue Home Information Packs - Go to Publications for an excellent illustration of an EPC

For those interested legislation covering EPCs is contained in Section 149 of the Housing Act 2004.

LAST BUT BY NO MEANS LEAST - DON’T FORGET ENERGY SAVING GRANTS

In many parts of the country local government grants are still available for landlords carrying out energy saving work – details can be found at:

www.warmfront.co.uk

www.energysavingstrust.org.uk - Helpline 0845 365 2468