Government intentions were originally that Energy Performance Certificates, known as EPC's, would apply to all new lets after 1 October 2008.  The position now is that EPC's in the social and private rented sectors will only apply to self-contained dwellings which are let.

Where individual rooms in a building are rented out and there are shared facilities (e.g. kitchen and/or bathroom), an EPC is not required.  This is because an EPC is only required on the rental of a building or part of a building designed or altered to be used separately.  Renting a room does not meet the 'part of a building' definition and therefore an EPC is only required for a habitable unit if it is self-contained.

In practical terms, this means that landlords will not need to provide EPC's for new lets after 1 October 2008 for a house let on multiple tenancy.  They will however, need to provide EPC's for new lets where there is a single contract between the landlord and the group.

Case Study 1:

A house or flat is rented by a number of tenants who have exclusive use of their bedrooms but share a kitchen and bathroom. In this case each tenant has a contract with the landlord for the parts they have access to, but not for a whole dwelling. An EPC is therefore not required each time a tenant moves, although one will be required for the whole house if it is sold or rented as a whole (see case study 2).

Case Study 2:

A group of friends rent a property and there is a single contract between the landlord and the group as the contract is for the rental of a whole dwelling. An EPC is required for the whole dwelling.

Further Information:

A full copy of the landlords guide to energy performance certificates within the private rented sector can be downloaded on the right of this page.

For further information please visit The Energy Savings Trust website or contact them on 0800 512 012