The Government has set out plans for more consultations to keep agents and the property sector busy as it looks to boost the reliability of energy performance certificates (EPCs).
The Ministry of Housing has responded to a call for evidence on EPCs that was launched in 2018 and has highlighted issues with reliability of the EPCs and a lack of redress if they are found to be incorrect.
Of 145 responses to the question “what evidence do you have relating to the reliability of EPC assessments,” only 5 (3%) answered that reliability was good.
The Ministry of Housing said: “Consumer trust needs to be addressed as low trust in EPCs could mean consumers are less likely to consult their EPC when making decisions and to act on recommendations.
“Better information on how EPCs are created and the limitations of EPCs could help to improve trust.”
The Ministry of Housing’s action plan suggests there needs to be better data on assessor performance and sanctions for deliberately falsified EPC ratings.
Respondents also suggested compliance with regulations to provide an EPC when a property is advertised for sale or let is inconsistent.
The action plan said: “Tougher sanctions would disincentivise building owners from not having an EPC, alongside the private rented sector framework which would incentivise owners to seek a good rating.”
The plan also suggests tenants should have an accessible route to redress to raise a complaint about an incorrect or misleading EPC.
Currently only those who commission the EPC can complain about it.
The Government has set out a series of consultations over the next year to address EPC issues and ensure they help meet the country’s energy efficiency targets and reduce carbon emissions.
These include changes to regulations on minimum energy efficiency standards that currently stipulate that rented properties must have a minimum rating of E and ways to improve EPC compliance through working with mortgage lenders and lettings agents
It comes as the Ministry of Housing also launched a new online register of EPCs yesterday.
ARLA Propertymark was not so pleased at the prospect of more consultations.
Timothy Douglas, policy and campaigns manager for ARLA Propertymark, said: “On the face of it these proposals simply do not take into account the state of the UK’s housing stock.
“We all want to see more energy efficient homes, but the new rules and requirements must be realistic and achievable.
“Landlords and their letting agents are already taking the brunt of tax changes and many are providing support to tenants with Covid related arrears.
“A simplified exemptions regime and additional financial support must be made available otherwise the measures in their current form, will not be achievable and that would mean further reductions in the supply of rented accommodation available.”
Comments (4)
No one looks at them they are a waste of time
They wonder why feedback is poor? It is probably because the Government do not do proper consultations and always rig the questions to get the answers they want. What is the point if the questions are rigged to get the answers they want – do they really think we are all so thick we can’t see it? As for EPC’s they set up the system, who should do the inspections and reports and how it is all regulated and presented. Does one need to say anymore???? They consulted on the abolition of S21 but there was no point as that is what they will do irrespective of what people say or do so why bother. I have absolutely no trust whatsoever in any political party. Its a party where the clowns are the players not the entertainers! This goes for EVERY political party.
In terms of advertised properties not having EPC’s it would be fairly straightforward for the Govt. to require that the Unique Property Reference Number (UPRN) should be available (either visible or tucked away) on property portals. Its something that portals could add themselves when data was first sent to them You give them the address…they lookup the UPRN . They may already do this when they sell data to other parties anyway.
Add the same UPRN number to the EPC and compare the properties being advertised on portals to the EPC Register data using the UPRN.
Once youve got the UPRN in the data you could check lots of other things eg whether the lettings properties have got the minimum required rating etc
Simple things like this would make Trading Standards job so much easier ….
I can’t work out whether the constant stupidity over EPCs is down to the EU or whether it’s our own policy makers. Our housing stock is mostly old and some has been around for over a century. Surely, given the current issues with coronavirus, there are more important things for landlords and tenants to worry about.