Legal requirements for Landlords - Energy Efficiency
Energy Performance Certificates
To comply with EU legislation, all rental properties marketed in Scotland from 4 January 2009 must have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).
The certificate gives a rating for the property, showing its energy efficiency and its environmental impact on a scale from A to G in graphical format (where A is the most efficient and G the least efficient). The average property in the UK is in bands D-E for both ratings.
The certificate also recommends ways to improve the property's energy performance, to help save energy, reduce bills and cut carbon dioxide emissions.
The cost of a certificate is in the region of £85 plus VAT. The certificate is valid for rental purposes for 10 years, but properties should be re-assessed sooner if energy saving repairs or improvements (such as the installation of a new boiler) are carried out.
It's good letting practice, and will improve your property's EPC rating, to provide a basic level of thermal insulation and incorporate, where necessary and practical, draught insulation of doors and windows, lagging of immersion heaters and hot water pipes and insulation of roof spaces. Your tenant must be able to heat the property to a reasonable temperature at a reasonable cost so there should be an efficient and economical heating supply and hot water supply. Grants may be available to improve the energy efficiency of your property.