This has significant implications for registered social landlords in that all your property portfolio will require an EPC before a change of tenant after this date. The EPC will last for a maximum of 10 years, if a valid Energy Performance Certificate still exists when changing tenants no new certificate is required.

Our nationwide team was involved in the pilot scheme 12 months ago, working with several social landlords in London and the South East. UK-EPC are keen to share our knowledge and experience. Our unique data capture and storage systems provide many opportunities to streamline systems and processes.

The new regulations on sampling and cloning techniques may allow an energy assessor to issue an Energy Performance Certificate where the property has not been individually assessed but is considered the same as, or similar to other housing units in a block. e.g. multiple flats in a block of same dimensions, construction and heating. Thus, surveying a percentage of properties can provide a representative sample of all units in a block. Surveys of properties that require cloned EPC's will have a lower price, this is because the energy assessor requires entry to only some of the dwellings in the block. The remaining EPC ratings can be calculated using the information gathered from the initial energy surveys. In order to ascertain what properties can be cloned and those that cannot, the Social Housing Provider needs to provide a spreadsheet containing basic details of all the properties. All properties need to be assigned to a group with similar characteristics.

For further information call our social housing team on 0845 838 9754