EPC Exemptions: When You Do Not Need One

While most properties need an EPC when sold or let, there are some exemptions. Here is a guide to the situations where an EPC is not required.

Properties Exempt from EPCs

Not every building needs an EPC. The following property types are exempt from the requirement: listed buildings where compliance would unacceptably alter their character or appearance, places of worship, temporary buildings intended to be used for two years or less, standalone buildings with a total useful floor area of less than 50 square metres, industrial sites and workshops with low energy demand for heating, buildings due to be demolished, and holiday accommodation that is let for less than four months a year and is not otherwise let.

Important Distinctions

The listed building exemption is often misunderstood. Being listed does not automatically exempt a property from needing an EPC. The exemption only applies where the energy efficiency improvements recommended by the EPC process would unacceptably alter the building's character or appearance. In practice, most listed buildings can and should have an EPC.

Similarly, agricultural buildings with low energy demand (such as barns used for storage) may be exempt, but if a barn has been converted into a residential dwelling, it will need an EPC.

MEES Exemptions for Landlords

Separate from the question of whether you need an EPC at all, there are exemptions under the MEES regulations for landlords whose properties fall below the E rating. These include the cost cap exemption (all improvements up to £3,500 have been made), the consent exemption (a required third party has refused consent), the devaluation exemption (improvements would reduce the property value by more than 5%), and the new landlord exemption (a temporary six-month exemption for new landlords).

Registering an Exemption

All MEES exemptions must be registered on the PRS Exemptions Register to be valid. Simply claiming an exemption without registering it does not protect you from enforcement action. Exemptions are typically valid for five years, after which they must be reviewed and re-registered if still applicable.