Government confirms that non-domestic rented buildings will need to meet EPC Band B by 2030
The Government Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has released a new consultation which makes proposals to improve the implementation and enforcement of the new EPC Band B requirement. The consultation can be split into four key areas:
1. Review of feedback received from consultation responses in October 2019 and BEIS Enforcement Pilot, and summarise the key concerns raised.
2. Outline of the proposed new framework for implementing an EPC Band B trajectory
a. Phase in the requirement with an interim milestone of EPC Band C in 2027 to ensure early action is taken by the market
b. Introduce a compliance window designed to simplify compliance and enforcement
c. Move away from enforcement at the point of let, and introducing a temporary 6-month exemption to address the challenges of compliance for shell and core premises
3. Proposals to strengthen enforcement and on amendments to existing exemption requirements to support the new framework.
a. Encouraging compliance by placing a requirement on letting agents and online property platforms to only advertise and let properties compliant with the PRS Regulations
b. Assisting local authority enforcement of the PRS Regulations
c. Tightening exemptions by amending the validity period of exemptions to require a review at each compliance window, and introducing a standardised payback calculator to determine cost-effective measures
- Invite views on how smart meters could play a role in supporting landlords to meet the PRS Regulations as part of the next phase of smart meter rollout.