Energy Performance Certificates to be extended

The Department for Communities and Local Government has announced that, from 30th June this year, the requirement for premises to have Energy Performance Certificates will be extended from residential properties to self-catering properties that are let for more than 20 weeks per annum.

This extension has come after considerable lobbying from the industry that the energy performance rating self-catering properties is of little significance to holiday-makers who stay in a property for short period and where energy costs are usually included in the rental price.

The English Association of Self Catering Operators is advising members to prepare to get an EPC but wait until nearer to June to do so while it tests the validity of this new requirement. The Tourism Alliance has taken up this issue with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and advised the Minister that it will be one of the pieces of legislation that the industry will be looking to remove as part of the Minister’s newly announced programme to reduce regulatory burden on the tourism industry.