Private landlords will be required to provide Energy Performance Certificates to tenants from 1st October 2008.

In accordance with the EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings part of the HIP, the requirement for Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) will be extended to the entire domestic sector on 1st October 2008.

As a result private landlords will be required to obtain an EPC and will need to give a copy to the tenant. This requirement will apply to all new tenancies commenced on or after 1 October 2008.

Each EPC for the domestic rental sector will have a life expectancy of 10 years although landlords would be encouraged to update them more often if they have refurbished a property and upgraded its thermal efficiency.

Enforcement of EPCs will be carried out by Trading Standards and through civil recourses available to the tenants.

The EPC can only be provided by trained Domestic Energy Assessors (DEA).