A. You may well ask! Changes to the rules governing EPCs were supposed to be implemented last July, and then in October. Both dates came and went without any sign of the changes happening – and with precious little explanation of what (if anything) was going on.
Currently, a new version of the EPC, and new rules governing their use, are meant to come into force on 6th April – Good Friday. However, at the time of writing, with only some 5 weeks left to go, the whole thing still seems to be up in the air. Detailed guidance from CLG (the Department of Communities and Local Government) is promised well in advance of the date, but there are currently no clues as to what that guidance might be. It is even rumoured that the new version of the EPC hasn’t even been approved yet!
In practical terms, this is probably more of a worry for us estate agents than it is for the general public, since one of the proposed changes is that in the case of sales, we will become legally responsible for EPCs, and face censure and even have to pay fines if the new rules governing their production and use are broken - yet we are almost completely in the dark about what’s going on!
Ultimately, however, the really big question is whether any of these changes will make EPCs more useful than they have so far proved – and on this, I suppose the fairest thing to say is that the jury is still well and truly out. The official line, of course, is that anything which increases awareness of the energy efficiency and environmental impact of a property has got to be a good idea. But so far, there is precious little evidence to suggest that buyers actually care very much. After all, there is a lot more to choosing a home than the cost of heating it. Very few buyers are showing signs of rejecting properties that they like and can afford, simply because they have a “G” energy rating.
Of course, this may change as we all become – or are forced to become – greener. However, that day is still a long way off.
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