Responsibilities for providing EPCs
When a building being constructed is physically complete, it is the responsibility of the person carrying out the construction to give an EPC and recommendations report to the owner of the building and to notify Building Control that this has been done. Building Control will not issue a certificate of completion until they are satisfied this has been done. If a building is modified to have more or less parts than it originally had and the modification includes the provision or extension of fixed services for heating, air conditioning or mechanical ventilation (ie those services that condition the indoor climate for the benefits of the occupants) then an EPC will be required. When the modifications are physically complete, it is the responsibility of the person carrying out the modification works to give an EPC and recommendations report to the owner of the building and to notify Building Control that this has been done. Building Control will not issue a certificate of completion until they are satisfied this has been done.

As soon as a building is in the process of being offered for sale, it is the responsibility of the seller to make available an EPC to prospective buyers. As soon as a building is in the process of being offered to let, it is the responsibility of the prospective landlord to make available an EPC to prospective tenants.

It is the responsibility of the seller or landlord offering the accommodation for sale or let to make an EPC available for their building. A lease assignment would be considered to be a sale or letting and the assignor should normally provide the EPC. The landlord’s obligations will generally be satisfied if the assignor provides the EPC to the assignee. The seller or landlord is responsible for ensuring there is an EPC for the building, or part of the building, being sold or let, even if an agent or another service organisation is acting on their behalf or providing an EPC.

The seller or landlord should therefore ensure any agents acting on their behalf are complying with the Regulations.