EPCs are no longer required for listed buildings; the full details are as follows;
According to the ‘Improving the energy efficiency of our buildings’ guide produced by the Department for Communities and Local Government buildings and monuments officially protected as part of a designated environment or because of their special architectural or historic merit in so far as compliance with certain energy efficiency requirements would unacceptably alter their character or appearance will no longer require an EPC from 9th January 2013. Stand alone buildings under 50sq m are also excluded.
The Department for Communities and Local Government issued a useful Q&A sheet in January on how they expect these provisions to work, although it does not appear to exist on their website,as follows:
Q. Can you explain the requirements in respect of historic buildings?
A. Any building which has been listed by English Heritage (or its Welsh equivalent) is exempt from the requirement to have an EPC on its sale or rent.
Q. How do I check whether a building has been listed by English Heritage?
A. See: www.english-heritage.org.uk/caring/listing/listed-buildings
Q. The regulations qualify the exemption by only exempting such buildings where compliance with certain minimum energy performance requirements would unacceptably alter their character or appearance. How do I know whether this applies to my building?
A. We have included that qualification because, in line with Government policy, we have adopted a copy-out approach to the Directive which means that, as far as possible, we have transposed the exact text into domestic legislation. But in practice, it does not impact the exemption. That is because there are no minimum energy performance requirements for listed or historic buildings.
Q. Are buildings that are part of a designated environment, such as a conservation area, required to have an EPC?
A. Yes. The only buildings that are exempt are those listed by English Heritage.
Q. What are minimum energy performance requirements?
A. The term minimum energy performance requirements refers to the energy efficiency standards required by the Building Regulations. They apply to new buildings and existing buildings that undergo major renovation. They do not apply to existing buildings that have not undergone a major renovation.
So just a little less red tape!
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