The Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012 (SI 2012/3118) are in force from today (9 January 2013). These regulations consolidate the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 and subsequent amendments made to those regulations since the 2007 Regulations came into force. As well as consolidating existing legislation, the new EPC regulations introduce the following changes:
– A requirement for property advertisements to include details of the energy performance certificate rating of a building where available (regulation 11);
– The removal of the requirement to attach the front page of the energy performance certificate to written material (e.g. sales particulars);
– An extension of the current requirement for a display energy certificate to be exhibited in large public buildings, to public buildings with a floor area above 500m² (regulation 14). Unlike buildings larger than 1,000m², display energy certificates for smaller public buildings will be valid for 10 years;
– A requirement for energy performance certificates to be displayed in commercial premises larger than 500m² which are “frequently visited by the public” where an EPC has been previously issued (regulation 10).
The Government’s guidance documents have been revised to reflect the changes.