ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATES – MANDATORY ON ALL RENTAL PROPERTY

In relation to EU Law all rental property in England and Wales will require an Energy Performance Certificate from October 2008. These assessments must be carried out by fully qualified and accredited Energy Assessors.  Property in Scotland and Northern Ireland will also require an EPC during 2008; exact dates for this are to be confirmed.

HIGH DEMAND COULD CAUSE LANDLORDS COSTLY DELAYS IN MARKETING THEIR PROPERTY

This is the schedule which points towards Energy Assessors being in high demand:

	August 1st 2007 – all 4 bedroom property put up for sale will require an EPC as part of the new mandatory Home Information Pack, all remaining house sizes to be implemented as more DEAs become available, likely to be by end of 2007
	April 2008 – all commercial property over 500 sq meters will require an EPC when offered for sale or rental
	October 2008 – all remaining commercial property of any size will require an EPC when offered for sale or rental
	October 2008 – all residential property will require an EPC at point of rental

The demand will be high, one important point to consider is the possible delay that may be caused in marketing  your property for rent because you do not have an EPC – from October next year it will be illegal to rent your property without a certificate.  It will be a busy time for Energy Assessors and so turn around of your EPC could cost you significant rental income, as you could experience a delay in getting your certificate and in turn getting your property on the market.