The Scottish Government updated its Energy Performance Certificates guide on 24 August 2026, revising existing pages and adding a new section titled "EPCs are changing"1. The update log records the change as: "Revised and added new page to explain how EPCs are changing."1. The same log shows that content about changes previously expected in October 2026 was removed on 10 March 20261.
The new page states that "New Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are being introduced from 30 April 2028"1. Under the Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2025, domestic EPCs will show ratings for heat retention, heating system and energy costs, while non-domestic EPCs will show ratings for energy performance, energy use and direct emissions1. Certificates will be valid for 5 years rather than 10, and quality assurance will be strengthened through a new accreditation scheme1. The page notes that the dates it gives are subject to approval by the Scottish Parliament1.
A transition period runs from 30 April 2028 to 30 April 2029, during which both old-style certificates issued under the 2008 regulations and new-style certificates issued under the 2025 rules can be used1. If a property is sold or let again inside that window, it cannot rely on the old-style EPC a second time and must have a new-style EPC and property report1. From 30 April 2029, only EPCs issued under the 2025 rules will be valid for meeting these requirements1. Assessors will only be able to issue new-style EPCs from 30 April 20281.
| Group | Transition arrangement |
|---|---|
| Buildings for sale or let | Old-style or new-style EPC accepted from 30 April 2028 to 30 April 2029; new-style only after 30 April 20291 |
| Short-term lets | Same one-year window, intended to give Scotland's 30,000 short-term lets time to move across gradually1 |
| Large public buildings | Existing old-style display EPC can be used until it expires or 30 April 2033, whichever comes first1 |
| New buildings | Any building completed on or after 30 April 2028 needs a new-style EPC and property report1 |
For short-term lets, the guidance says the grace period is "designed to give Scotland's 30,000 short-term lets time to move across gradually, spreading out the transition so it doesn't disrupt the market"1. For large buildings regularly visited by the public, including colleges, community centres, libraries, hospitals, benefit offices and crematoria, every such building will need to display a new-style EPC from 30 April 20331. Developers of buildings completed on or after 30 April 2028 must provide the new-style EPC and property report to the owner within 7 days of submitting a completion certificate to a local authority1.
Separately, the guide's existing pages set out current duties. When a building is advertised for sale, the EPC rating must be included in the advertisement and the EPC must be available for issue to all prospective purchasers, with a penalty charge notice of £500 or more for failure3. For lettings, the rating must be included in adverts in commercial media and the EPC provided to a new tenant free of charge4. An EPC is required for every individual dwelling rented out, and a single certificate cannot cover an entire block of flats4. Landlords are not required by these regulations to carry out improvement works4.
"New Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are being introduced from 30 April 2028."
Why it matters for households
An EPC is the document that records how a home performs and what could be improved, rated A to G with A the most efficient, alongside measures and an indicative cost for each improvement2. The assessment reflects the building itself rather than how occupants use it, using standard assumptions so different buildings can be compared2. From 30 April 2028 the certificate a household receives will break that picture into separate ratings for heat retention, heating system and energy costs, rather than a single headline figure1. Because certificates will last 5 years instead of 10, a home's rating will be refreshed more often, and the shorter life of an old-style certificate matters for anyone planning a sale or let around the transition dates1. For owners of flats, the existing rule that each individual dwelling needs its own EPC remains in place4.
What happens next
The dates given depend on approval by the Scottish Parliament1. The transition window for sales and lettings runs from 30 April 2028 to 30 April 2029, after which only new-style EPCs are accepted1. Large public buildings have until 30 April 2033 to display a new-style EPC1. The guidance does not state what happens if parliamentary approval is not given, and no further dates have been reported.