The Scottish Government launched a consultation on EPC reform in July 2023, which ended in October 2023, seeking views on wider reforms in domestic and non-domestic EPCs to ensure they are fit for purpose to support proposed future Heat in Buildings regulations1. A total of 323 responses were received1. After removing blank and duplicate responses, 122 came from organisations and 201 from individuals1.
The highest number of organisation responses came from representative bodies (31), followed by the construction sector (30), local authorities (19) and housing providers (10)1. The Scottish Government also held three workshops, mostly among those working in areas around assessment, and seven one-to-one discussions looking at the impact on businesses1.
The consultation followed an initial consultation on EPC reform in 2021, which focused on introducing a specific EPC rating, Energy Use, onto domestic EPCs and renaming the existing ratings1. The 2023 consultation proposed a set of domestic EPC ratings to give a holistic reflection of a building's performance, a set of non-domestic ratings, and changes to the operational system for EPC assessors and the Approved Organisations who accredit them1. The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, which submitted a response by its own deadline of 6 October 2023, set out proposed headline metrics of a Fabric Rating, a Cost Rating and Heating System Type, with an Emissions Rating and Energy Use Indicator displayed as secondary information2.
"In July 2023, the Scottish Government launched a consultation on EPC reform, which ended in October 2023. This sought views on wider reforms in domestic and non-domestic EPC s to ensure they are fit for purpose to support proposed future Heat in Buildings regulations. A total of 323 responses were received to this consultation."
The analysis was published on 23 January 2025, more than a year after the consultation closed1. It states that the Scottish Government intends to introduce revised Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations to the Scottish Parliament, subject to the necessary legislative vehicle being in place, and will also review the UK Government's timeline for development of the Home Energy Model, which may be a more appropriate time to introduce the reformed EPC1.
Why it matters for households
An EPC is required when a building is sold or let to a new tenant, and has formed part of the Home Report in Scotland since 20081. The ratings a household sees on that document, and the improvement advice attached to it, are the subject of this reform. The consultation sought views on whether the current metrics accurately reflect a home's fabric efficiency and support the transition to net zero2. Which? has reported that only 36% of the UK population know or have a sense of what their EPC rating is, and only 29% of those aware of their EPC said they had seen the section with advice on how to improve their rating3. Which? also reported that assessments are generally available from £35 to £1003. The Scottish Government has said EPCs are a long-established element of the property markets and that it is widely accepted they need reform1.
What happens next
The Scottish Government intends to introduce revised Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations to the Scottish Parliament, subject to the necessary legislative vehicle being in place, which would allow revised EPCs to come into use shortly after regulations are introduced1. It will also review the UK Government's timeline for development of the Home Energy Model, which may be a more appropriate time to introduce the reformed EPC1. No date has been reported for the introduction of the regulations.