Transitional Arrangements for European Performance of Buildings Directive

The Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG - the department responsible for implementing Energy Performance Certificates, EPCs) has announced a transitional period for buildings already on the market at 6 April.

Any building which is on the market before then and remains on the market afterwards will need an EPC by 1 October at the latest. If it is sold or rented out in the meantime, an EPC must be commissioned and then handed over as soon as practicable.

This is intended to make it easier for owners and landlords of large buildings to comply with the legislation. Similar provisions will apply for the introduction of EPCs on buildings over 2,500 m2 in July, expiring also on 1 October 2008. This responds to industry expectations - putting in place similar arrangements as were in place for domestic.

It is not aniticipated that this will make a huge difference to the number of certificates required