Synopsis
These regulations will revoke and replace the Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2008.
A new rating system will apply to energy performance certificates for domestic and non-domestic buildings in Scotland. Assessors will need to be accredited under approved schemes and site-based audits will be introduced for assessors.
Summary
The Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2025 will revoke and replace the Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2008.
The regulations will initially come into force on 1 January 2026 to allow for the approval of organisations and accreditation schemes and will come fully into force on 31 October 2026.
This legislation will apply in Scotland only.
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Rules
EPCs will continue to be required on the construction of qualifying buildings or when they are offered for sale, rent or short-term residential let. Property reports accompanying the EPCs will also be required.
For newly constructed buildings, the developer is required to provide the owner with a copy of a valid EPC and associated property report. Any advertisements for the sale or letting of properties must include the relevant energy performance indicators.
A new rating system will apply to EPCs. These will comprise the following energy performance indicators:
EPC assessors will need to be accredited under approved schemes and site-based audits will be introduced for assessors.
The validity of EPCs will be reduced to five years from 10 years at present.
Use of Pre-existing EPCs
Pre-existing EPCs issued under the Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2008 may only be used until 31 October 2027. After this date, a new EPC complying with the Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2025 will be required to offer properties for sale, let or residential short-term let.
Pre-existing display EPCs for public buildings that remain valid may be used until 31 October 2031.
Property Report Requirements
The property report required alongside each EPC must contain the following information:
Display EPCs
The owner, or if not the owner, the occupier, of a building frequently visited by the public must display a valid EPC in a prominent location.
This applies to:
Methodologies and Assessment Standards
The Scottish Ministers are responsible for approving and publishing the methodologies for assessing and calculating the indicators and estimates included in EPCs and property reports, as well as for specifying how these indicators are expressed.
Accreditation Schemes and Approval of Organisations
A system has been introduced to approve accreditation schemes that authorise energy assessors to produce EPCs and property reports. The regulations also apply requirements on organisations operating these schemes and how they can gain formal approval.
EPC Register
A new EPC register will hold EPCs prepared, making these freely available. EPC assessors will continue to be required to lodge EPC assessment data, with a fee of £6 (per domestic property) and £15.50 (per non-domestic property) applying.
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