Changes to EPC Regulations

The Government have announced a number of likely changes to the EPC regulations that will see the regulations for commercial property having some parity to the requirements for residential property. Mostly notably is the removal of the words that allow the production of an EPC to be left to the very last minute in the property transaction. Many Agents argue that nobody ever asks to see the EPC so what’s the point. You don’t have to look very far on the Internet to find them bleating about how much extra work they may now have to do to press print on their computers. Yet few Agents understand what the EPC is let alone understand the technical recommendations. To keep life simple Agents don’t make purchasers or potential lessees aware that an EPC is available hence no one asks to see it. Whilst the property that has a poor energy rating may be more difficult to sell or let, the ones with a good rating should be promoted because a good rating means lower running costs. Energy costs are only going to get more and more expensive. I had a conversion with a client last week who had a new boiler fitted to replace his old antiquated one. The new boiler was at least 30% more efficient than the old one. He commented was that he hadn’t noticed his bills going down. Arh I pointed out the price of oil has risen by at least 40% in the last six months. Yes he agreed at some thought, his bills hadn’t gone down but they hadn’t risen that dramatically either. Another change to the regulations is the period during which an EPC should be produced. I don’t think this will change anything other than help to promote the idea that an EPC must be produced when a property is first put up for sale or let. It will be interesting to see how many Agents do this. Publishing the full EPC with the sales particulars seems a bit over the top. A commercial EPC has one useful page and the Recommendation report has perhaps 2 useful pages out of a likely 8 pages. It would much better to have a way of summarising the Recommendation report. It will be interesting to see if the proposed changes are approved before the likely implementation date of 1st July 2011. Hopefully they will and it will see greater emphasis placed on the EPC and more people asking to see it and wanting to understand that the EPC and the Recommendations will save a building user real hard cash.