Time for a Change: Rethinking the 10-Year EPC Validity
The UK Government is currently consulting on significant reforms to the Energy Performance of Buildings (EPB) regime, including a critical review of the 10-year validity period for Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs). At Carbon Profile, we believe this is a necessary and overdue discussion. As Elmhurst Energy, a leading accreditation body for energy assessors, highlights in their recent blog post, "How long should EPCs be valid for?", a decade is far too long for a document designed to provide an accurate snapshot of a building's energy performance.
Why 10 Years is Too Long
Carbon Profile, along with Elmhurst Energy, advocates for a significantly shorter validity period, ideally around three years. The reasoning is clear: buildings, especially in the dynamic commercial property sector, undergo frequent changes that impact energy efficiency. Renovations, system upgrades, and changes in occupancy can all alter a building's performance, making a decade-old EPC an unreliable indicator.
An outdated EPC can:
Contain obsolete information: Recommendations, running costs, and carbon factors may no longer be relevant.
Misrepresent the property: Changes to the building fabric or systems may not be reflected.
Fail to capture improvements: Recent energy efficiency upgrades remain unacknowledged.
Lose accuracy: New methodologies like RdSAP 10 and the Home Energy Model (HEM) are making older EPCs less reliable.
Additionally, as Elmhurst Energy points out, prolonged validity periods increase the risk of property misdescriptions, which can lead to legal complications.
The Need for Accurate and Up-to-Date EPCs
Accurate and up-to-date EPCs are crucial for:
Informed decision-making: Buyers, tenants, and investors need reliable information to assess a property's energy performance and potential costs.
Driving energy efficiency: Shorter validity periods encourage regular assessments and incentivise property owners to make improvements.
Meeting decarbonisation targets: Accurate EPCs are essential for tracking progress towards national carbon reduction goals.
Ensuring compliance: Up-to-date EPCs support compliance with Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) and other regulations.
Aligning with Industry Best Practices
The Scottish Government has already set a precedent by adopting a five-year EPC validity period. England, Wales, and Northern Ireland should follow suit to ensure consistency across the UK and improve the reliability of EPCs as a decision-making tool. A shorter validity period would not only enhance accuracy but also drive greater engagement within the industry.
More frequent assessments would create a steady demand for energy assessors, fostering job opportunities and skill development within the sector. Additionally, it would encourage landlords and property managers to actively improve energy efficiency on an ongoing basis rather than waiting for a decade to reassess their buildings. This approach aligns with the broader industry push for sustainability, ensuring that properties remain competitive, compliant, and attractive to environmentally conscious tenants and investors.
Moreover, reducing the EPC validity period would facilitate a more collaborative approach to energy improvements. With assessors engaging more regularly with landlords and industry professionals would have greater opportunities for knowledge-sharing, strategic planning, and implementation of best practices. This increased interaction can help property owners stay informed about the latest advancements in energy efficiency, regulatory updates, and emerging technologies, enabling them to make proactive, well-informed decisions that benefit their portfolios and the environment.
A harmonised approach across the UK would also prevent market disparities. It would ensure that all stakeholders operate under a unified standard that supports compliance and best practices in energy performance management.
Our Call to Action
We urge the UK Government to reconsider the 10-year EPC validity period as part of the EPB reforms. Reducing the validity period will benefit all stakeholders in the property sector and contribute to a more sustainable built environment.
We encourage industry professionals, property managers, and investors to participate in the consultation process. Read Elmhurst’s blog post, review the government’s consultation document, and submit your feedback before the deadline. Your voice matters in shaping the future of EPCs and the broader transition to a net-zero built environment.
