Government Advice on meeting the regulatory requirement to secure a valid Energy Performance Certificate on marketing a property during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Protecting everyone
Where it is possible to conduct an assessment safely, assessors should communicate with households prior to any visit to discuss how the work will be carried out to minimise risk for all parties.
In accordance with NHS advice, assessment visits should not take place in properties where anyone is symptomatic or self-isolating.
Landlords should consult tenants on whether it is appropriate for an assessment to be conducted, based on the tenant’s personal situation.
Landlords should also seek further information on coronavirus (COVID-19) and the enforcement of standards in rented properties.
If you are unable to undertake an assessment for which you have been booked, you should seek to reschedule your appointment when it is safe to do so.
KEY POINTS FROM THE UK GOVERNMENT’S EPC GUIDANCE:
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Where possible delay the property transaction, and ultimately the EPC assessment until the stay-at-home measures to fight coronavirus are no longer in place.
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If it is not possible to delay the transaction and assessment, and a valid EPC is not available from the EPC Register, an assessment may need to be carried out.
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Where an EPC assessment needs to be carried out, the UK Government’s social distancing measures and guidance for carrying out work in people’s homes must be adhered to.
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EPC assessments can continue where a property is empty.
Importantly, the UK Government’s guidance says that no EPC assessments should take place if any person in a property is showing symptoms of Coronavirus, self-isolating or being shielded.
For property agents, if sorting an EPC is crucial, agents should seek to reschedule the appointment when it is safe to do so in accordance with Government guidelines on staying away from others.