Pub sales materials must contain energy performance certificates

From 6 April, property agents will have to issue an EPC within seven days of the property being marketed, instead of the previous 28 days, or face a visit from trading standards officers.

However the need to attach a full EPC with all marketing material has been toned down so that only the first page will need to be added.

EPCs, compulsory since 2008, show the energy efficiency of a property and how it could be improved. Licensees should have an EPC before they market a pub, but experts say sellers were waiting until a pub was under offer before paying for an assessment, which costs around £300 to £500 for a typical pub.

“Vendors and agents are now liable if properties do not have an EPC when they are marketed,” said Andrew Whelan, director at EPCforProperty, which provides energy certificates for pubs.

“A lot of agents have already taken action and are complying with the new regulations so the changes are having the desired effect.”

Auctioneers had lobbied against the changes because they will add extra paper to auction catalogues, increasing costs.

Whelan also reminded licensees contemplating installing solar panels that if their property has an energy rating lower than ‘D’, it will only be eligible for a maximum generation tariff rate [payment] of 9p/kWh, as opposed to 21p/kWh if a property has a rating of ‘D’ or better.

“All properties installing solar panels after 1 April should aim to have their EPC ratings above ‘D’ before doing so,” explained Whelan.