Addendum to Minutes
Important new information regarding EPC’s
The subject was debated in the House of Commons on 10th November 2011 and clarification was sought from the Secretary of State
Confirmation of what the Government meant by saying that self-catering properties
are exempt from the requirement to gain an Energy Performance Certificate as long
as “certain conditions” are met has appeared in Hansard.
Andrew Stephenson (Pendle, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether
holiday lets are exempt from the need to have energy performance certificates
when they are rented out (a) for less than a cumulative period of four months
within a 12 month period and (b) through a licensing arrangement where the
holidaymaker does not have exclusive use of the property during the period for
their booking.
Grant Shapps (Minister of State (Housing and Local Government), Communities
and Local Government; Welwyn Hatfield, Conservative)
holding answer 10 November 2011
Following the Westminster Hall debate initiated by my hon. Friend, 14 June
2011, Hansard, column 230WH, Ministers have reviewed the implementation
of the legislation to see if unnecessary regulations on holiday lets could be
removed. This has taken place under the auspices of the Government’s Red
Tape Challenge.
We have listened carefully to the concerns raised by hon. Members and the
tourism industry and have concluded that an energy performance certificate
should not be required for a holiday let where:
the property is rented out for less than four months in a year; or
it is let under a licence to occupy—regardless of the amount of time it is
A licence to occupy is an arrangement where the holidaymaker does not have
exclusive use of the property; for example, where the property owner or their
representative has the right to access the premises during the period of the
My Department will be publishing detailed guidance on this issue shortly. We
will also be making appropriate amendments to the Energy Performance of
Buildings Regulations.
Note:- Owners can still arrange an EPC if they wish, as at some time in the future it may still be a required. All homes in the UK will have an EPC at some.
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