The Scottish Government has decided to reduce the validity period of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) in Scotland from 10 years to five, it confirmed in its response to the 2023 EPC reform consultation, published on 21 January 20251. The decision sits within a wider package of EPC reforms covering ratings, certificate design and the operational infrastructure behind the register1.
The change would only apply where the validity period is not overridden by another existing requirement, such as a government funding scheme requiring a new EPC or a Home Report already requiring one1. The government said a 10-year-old certificate "will not provide a potential or current tenant or building owner with up-to-date information about the performance of a building"1. Consultation responses showed minority support for the shorter period, with some respondents arguing it should apply only to new buildings and others raising concerns about pressure to carry out retrofit work or effects on the housing market1.
Alongside validity, the government confirmed other operational changes:
| Change | Decision |
|---|---|
| EPC validity period | Reduced from 10 years to five, subject to existing requirements1 |
| Default format | Webpage, replacing the current PDF1 |
| Register access | Live API access intended, allowing real-time queries1 |
| Data sharing | Non-personal data, including the EPC Report Reference Number, to be shareable by the Keeper of the Register1 |
The government said it had "decided to move to a webpage as the default way an EPC is viewed, from the current PDF format", and that it intends to introduce live API access to the register so interested parties can query it in real time1. A printable version will be needed, for example for Home Reports or for people without internet access1. Data sharing would cover non-personal data only and would not include names or other details about the homeowner1.
"We have decided to reduce the validity period of EPC s to five years."
The response also confirms work with the UK Government on the Home Energy Model, which will replace SAP as the calculation methodology behind EPCs, and a forthcoming technical consultation on the new register1. No implementation date for the five-year validity period appears in the response; the original proposal to legislate in Winter 2023-24 was to be reviewed against the Home Energy Model's launch1.
Why it matters for households
A shorter validity period means an EPC obtained for a Scottish home will date faster, so a certificate used at the point of sale or rental, or to demonstrate compliance with a standard, may need renewing sooner than under the 10-year rule. Where a Home Report or a funding scheme already requires a fresh EPC, that requirement continues to take precedence1. The government frames the change as consumer protection, arguing that older certificates cannot reflect subsequent changes to a property1.
The move to a webpage format and API access changes how EPC data is viewed and shared. Registered social landlords, for example, would be able to see the performance of their stock and how improvement programmes change it over time1. For individual owners, the certificate remains a basic, standardised assessment rather than a substitute for detailed retrofit advice, and will continue to signpost towards more detailed assessment1. How these changes interact with Scotland's housing stock and with devolved energy and buildings policy has not been set out in detail.
What happens next
A related technical consultation on the new EPC Register is to follow the government response1. The response does not give a date for the revised regulations coming into force, stating only that the new register will implement the changes when they do1.