Energy Performance Certificates update

Further progress has been achieved in overturning the requirement for self-catering properties to gain Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs). Although this requirement technically came into force on 1 July.

Assistant whip Bill Wiggin gave this reply to a question from Andrew Stephenson, MP for Pendle, in the House of Commons: “I have investigated this and it seems to be a classic case of gold-plating. We have made inquiries to establish the position in other European Union countries and it seems that, as my honourable friend said, EPCs are not required for holiday lets in a number of other member states, including Germany, Sweden and Denmark – he also mentioned France and Scotland. It gives me great pleasure to tell the House that we should have a clearly defined position on this within the next few weeks.”

That the Government acknowledges the proposed requirement is ‘gold-plating’ opens the door for a solution to be found, which will either remove the need for operators to gain EPCs or introduce an exemption when a property is let to the same person for more than three months.