The Scottish Government is to upgrade its Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) system, prompting experts to wonder if the changes herald a 'minimum' EPC band for rented properties, as Ministers have been promising since 2017.

While it is claimed that the new EPCs will give home owners, landlords and tenants a simpler, clearer and more accurate picture of their property's energy performance, EPCs in Scotland remain a source of information only, unlike in other parts of the UK where they are linked to minimum energy efficiency standards.

In late 2023 the country’s Ministers decided not to follow England and Wales, where landlords’ properties must meet a minimum 'E' band EPC to be rented legally, which is due to rise to a ‘C’ by 2030 under current plans.

Scotland had planned to make newly-rented properties meet a minimum ‘C’ band by 2025 and existing tenancies by 2028, but this was dropped and at the moment the only stipulation is that a property must have an EPC to be rented or sold.

The 2028 date still stands as a promised deadline, but draft legislation has yet to appear, and the Scottish Government appears to be more in favour of minimum physical standards in insulation for rented properties such as cavity wall and loft insulation.

Latest changes

The latest changes to EPCs in Scotland include the introduction of a rating system which will give clearer information on the energy efficiency of a home including emissions, efficiency and running costs of its heating system; and the overall cost of energy to run the home.

And the design of the EPC will also be overhauled to make it easier to understand, and the validity of EPCs will be reduced from ten to five years to ensure consumers have more up-to-date information.

Alasdair Allan (main image), Acting Minister for Climate Action says: “EPCs are a vital source of information for home and building owners and potential purchasers.

“By improving the EPC we can give everyone a clearer picture of the actual energy efficiency of a home.

“These improvements reflect feedback from external groups including consumer organisations and the Climate Change Committee, as well as from industry, and are in line with changes to EPCs being implemented elsewhere in the UK and in Europe.”

Subject to Parliamentary approval, the new regulations, new EPC rating system and redesigned certificates are expected to be brought into force next year.

Main image credit: Alisdair Allan/X