ASSC Partner with DM Hall to tackle EPC Regulation
EPC Regulation – What You Need to Know
The ASSC has engaged with Scottish Government over the last two years to have the exemption for EPC’s in Holiday Rental Accommodation reinstated, in order to ensure the best possible outcome for the sector, but to no avail. In light of the Climate Crisis, we do understand that the Scottish Government must be seen to pro-actively support energy efficiency.
With this in mind, individual holiday homes in Scotland, which are rented out in their entirety to groups of people now require an EPC.
The ASSC has produced a Guidance Sheet to inform the self-catering / short-term let sector.
EPC Guidance Sheet Download.
A Background to Energy Performance Certificates
Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) were introduced through European legislation for all new construction and for buildings which are to be sold or rented to new tenants. The EPC is produced using a government approved methodology, which amongst other things rates the energy efficiency of a building on a scale of ‘A’ – ‘G’, with ‘A’ being the most efficient. EPCs must be provided to prospective buyers and tenants.
- Scotland, as part of the UK along with other EU Member States, is required to promote energy efficiency performance improvements for new and existing buildings under the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2002/91/EC (EPBD).
- The EU adopted the EPBD, a ‘recast’ (or revision) to the original Directive, in 2010. This has then been transposed in Scotland through Building Standards legislation and The Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations
- In Scotland, previous guidance on ‘holiday-let’ accommodation was withdrawn.
The ASSC believes that all types of accommodation should not be treated in the same manner in regard to the Long-Term Domestic Standard. Moreover, the ASSC affirms that short-term holiday lets should not be subject to the same regulation as tenancies in the private sector. In June 2018, the ASSC requested legal advice from Brodies LLP, in light of the withdrawal of guidance from the Scottish Government as to the requirement for an Energy Performance Certificate for self-catering accommodation. This advice stated that a “holiday let” of self-catering accommodation does not fall within the ambit of the Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2008, as there is no tenancy agreement involved, but a license to occupy for the purpose of a holiday.
Moreover, we are of the view that an exemption should be granted for short-term holiday lets in terms of compliance with EPCs, as occurs in several other European Union Member States. Several European countries have introduced exemptions for holiday let properties to be required to have EPCs, including Italy, Denmark, Germany and Sweden. These exemptions have been sanctioned by the European Commission. In correspondence with the ASSC, the Scottish Government stated that the exemptions available to Member States, under Article 4 of the Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings (recast) Directive, were not all adopted in Scotland.
DM Hall Joins ASSC As New Partner For Business
Today we announce a new partnership for ASSC, bringing a significantly enhanced offering to you, our members.
ASSC and DM Hall have entered into a three-year agreement which will see DM Hall as the preferred property services and advice provider for our membership. DM Hall is an ideal firm to support us in meeting our vision of a professional, vibrant and prosperous Scottish self-catering sector.
Founded in 1897, DM Hall has a long and established history and with 26 offices, they cover the length and breadth of Scotland with a multitude of property services as listed below.
“Having worked closely with DM Hall over recent months, I am very excited about this partnership and have seen at first hand the real value that DM Hall will bring to the self-catering sector”said Fiona Campbell, CEO. DM Hall will also be a significant partner at our conference next month. In addition to a DM Hall exhibition stand, DM Hall’s Head of Energy, Mark O’Neill will be presenting a brief intro to DM Hall’s involvement with ASSC over the question of EPCs, identifying whether you should chose a domestic or commercial EPC, minimum energy standards on the horizon, and some silver linings – how an EPC can work for an occupier.
Mark O’Neill, Head of Energy at DM Hall, said: “Withdrawal of Government guidance on energy assessment issues, specifically related to self-catering holiday accommodation, was the catalyst for initial conversations between ASSC and DM Hall.
“Further discussions, however, led ASSC Chief Executive Fiona Campbell to conclude that ASSC members could benefit significantly from accessing DM Hall’s expert insight and knowledge across a wide range of property issues.
“As a result, ASSC has directly recommended DM Hall to its members as its preferred and promoted property services and advice provider.”
Many of our Members are already aware of DM Hall’s expertise and its presence throughout Scotland. DM Hall was established in 1897 and now employs over 230 people across 26 offices in Scotland.
With this move to appoint the firm as our preferred property services and advice provider we expect to enhance significantly our offering to ASSC members and look forward to working with them.
For more information about DM Hall or to enquire about a specific property issue, you can visit their dedicated ASSC page: www.dmhall.co.uk/assc.
