Energy Reports - Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) in Scotland

Home Report, Single Survey, EPC - As part of the EU EPBD part of the EU EPBD directive an (Energy Report) Energy Performance Certificate or EPC will be required for homes for sale or rent in Scotland.

DEA in Scotland? - Free registration of your details is provided on our website. If you are a Domestic Energy Assessor in Scotland in any of the regions listed below, please go to our register page and provide your details. DEA Register

EPC - Energy Performance Certificates in Scotland commence December 2008. Domestic Energy Assessors - We can help your company or independent energy assessor business, Home Owners, Home Sellers, Property Solicitors can find your Home Inspection services on this site. Add your listing for free in our Directory.

The example above (Source: Scottish Building Standards Agency) shows what a Home Domestic EPC will look like. Commercial Buildings Energy Performance Certificates will differ in appearance and content. This page explains what an EPC for a dwelling is and how the ratings are applied. A certificate can only be issued by a qualified inspector as part of the Home Report. Such energy inspectors must be registered with an approved organisation as specified below. Approved Organisations currently include:
The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, Scotland (CIBSE Scotland), The Association of Building Engineers (ABE), The Energy Institute (EI), The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), The Heating and Ventilation Contractors Association (HVCA), Building Research Establishment (BRE), National Energy Services (NES), Elmhurst and CIH Scotland. The Energy Performance Certificate provides information about a dwellings energy rating and environmental rating based on a survey by a home energy inspector otherwise known as a Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA). An assessor who is not accredited with one of the above organisations is not authorised to issue an energy certificate in Scotland.

In Scotland, the legislation will come into force on 1st December 2008. The EPC will be issued as part of the Home Report, in effect a Single Survey. This differs from reports provided in England and Wales as, a Home Condition Report is optional.

How long is an EPC valid for?
The validity of an Energy Performance Certificate in Scotland for homes for sale or rent is 10 years from the date of issue. the validity period is not affected by sale to buyer, or new tenant to new tenant in this term, for the avoidance of doubt, the EPC is valid for the 10 year period from date of issue irrespective of how many times the property is sold in the period and, how many times a new tenant occupies the property in that period. Renewal is required at the time of expiration.

What do the EPC Ratings mean?
Principally the SAP Rating points graph represents a score based on the findings in the home energy report which includes factors as: the age of the property, the construction and insulation contained within the fabric of the building, the heating boiler and controls for the heating system used, secondary heating appliances (fixed not portable), the glazing in the home, the lighting installed and the volume and exposed perimeter of the property. Generally, the better the heating appliances (e.g. condensing type gas boiler Band A) and insulation of the home, together with energy saving lighting, the better the energy "points" score will be. The environmental rating is based on the CO2 emissions produced by the property based on the factors described above. In this case the more energy efficient the property is, the less CO2 emissions will be produced. Generally speaking homes that have been built more recently, have a better rating than much older property as building regulations have improved standards of construction and insulation values than in older property.

Rented Property EPC

I am a Landlord and have property for rental, do I need an Energy Performance Certificate?
Yes - as from 4th January 2009 you are required to be in possession of a valid certificate for homes that are rented to tenants. This will apply to all lettings provided by private landlords, estate agents and property solicitors.

Where can I find a Surveyor to provide an Energy Performance Certificate?
This website can help you find an independent Energy Assessor to provide a home inspection to determine your homes energy rating, produce the EPC together with a recommendations report. Please refer to the regional area directory below. These listings will be continually updated as more companies are registered.

What is a Recommendations Report?
Dependent on the findings in the home survey software used to produce the energy certificate (RdSAP - Reduced Data Standard Assessment Procedure) may determine that improvements can be made to the overall energy efficiency of the property. A typical example would be to top up loft insulation if the thickness was below 250mm.

Further information can be found for (England & Wales) EPC Energy Performance Certificates, for Scotland please refer to the following directory: