Important changes to rules on EPCs affecting agents have been postponed until next April.
They could have been implemented as early as next week, but are now set to kick in on April 6, 2012.
There have been few concessions in the much-delayed changes, but further guidance will be issued before next spring.
The only real concession, as already revealed on LAT, is that the requirement for agents, both sales and lettings, to attach an EPC report to all particulars has been toned down so that only the first page of the EPC will now have to be attached.
However, this is unlikely to please critics who point out that it will still mean having to produce and print another sheet of paper, and it will be almost immaterial as to whether it is printed on one or both sides.
Otherwise, agents will have to prove they have ordered an EPC before marketing, and will have seven days to produce an EPC – or a further 21 if they haven’t managed to do so, despite trying.
The changes in regulations will also mean that Trading Standards officers will have new powers to get agents to prove that they have commissioned an EPC when marketing a property without one. A number of ‘consequential changes’ to the role of Trading Standards, allowing them to enforce their new duties, will be made.
Where the property’s address has been omitted from the particulars, it will not be necessary to put the address on the EPC.
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Comments
"Any letting agent ever been asked for a copy of an EPC from a tenant?"
My question is: Has any agent ever offered to show an EPC to a prospective tenant?
If not, why? The EPC is a potential marketing tool to help tenants select energy efficient properties that will cost less to heat. It seems to me that this is even more relevant in the rental sector where a tenant is looking at short term residence and has no interest in improving the property over time.
Any letting agent ever been asked for a copy of an EPC from a tenant? I don't think I ever have since this somewhat (in my opinion) pointless regulation, has come into force!
And I also don't see how a certificate valid for 10 years is going to keep EPC companies in business in the long-term.
Waste of everybody's time.
Waste of time leaving the address off as the number top right on the first page and given access to the site where all EPC's are stored we able to take off the address and the number or name of the property as well.
Bet the twits in charge of this amendment in legislation did'nt know that with this number the address is dead easy to get.
"Where the property’s address has been omitted from the particulars, it will not be necessary to put the address on the EPC."
Daft.