Government legislation is being rolled across England and Wales to improve the energy efficiency of buildings. The European legislation - the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2007 – must be adopted by all member states.

In this section, you will find details of the latest updates to legislation and how they affect you. If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

4 January 2009
All commercial properties over 50m2 require a commercial EPC.

Further legislation relating to air-conditioning systems will now come into force on the following dates:

4 January 2009 – First inspection of all existing air-conditioning systems over 250kW must have occurred by this date*
4 January 2011 – First inspection of all remaining air-conditioning systems over 12kW must have occurred by this date*

*Note – a system first put into service on or after 1 January 2008 must have a first inspection within 5 years of being put into service.

31 December 2008
From this point onward elements of the HIP (the index, EPC, sale statement and evidence of title) must be in place before marketing can commence. All information regarding the leasehold of the property will also be required from this date.

1 October 2008
All Public Buildings over 1,000m2 to have a DEC.

Any commercial building over 50sqm, new to the market requires a CEPC.

Any commercial building over 50sqm on the market before 1st October and remaining on the market will need a CEPC by 4th January 2009 at the latest. If it is sold or rented out in the meantime, a CEPC must be commissioned and then handed over as soon as is practicable.

An EPC is also required for all other residential buildings not covered by prior legislation – therefore an EPC will be required for all buy to let, rental, non-marketed sales and portfolio sales transactions.

9 September 2008
Extension to the validity period of the EPC within a HIP, for homes when marketed for sale - currently one year - to three years.

1 July 2008
An EPC is required for the sale or lease of all commercial buildings over 2,500m2.

6 April 2008
The EPC is now a requirement in order to receive a completion certificate on all new build properties (commercial and residential). An EPC is also required for the sale or lease of all commercial buildings over 1,000m2.

14 December 2007
HIPs are a mandatory requirement for the sale of all residential properties. In order to be able to place a property on the open market a HIP must have been ordered.