Page 29 - December 2023

PROPERTY ADVICE

As we anticipate the results of the
Scottish Government’s consultation, What are the proposed new ratings for EPCs?
ESPC continues to support and speak

up for homeowners across Scotland.
Fabric Rating: Cost Rating:
Paul Hilton,
CEO of ESPC The government’s developed two This is simply a new name for the
possible definitions for the fabric rating current metric, the Energy Efficiency
and is using the answers given in their Rating. It’s intended to allow
recent consultation to help decide potential buyers or tenants to make a
Following these proposed changes, the “The new EPCs will make it easier for between them. standardised comparison of running
government intends to bring in a wider buyers to evaluate how much they’ll be costs between properties, plus to
Heat in Buildings Bill, which would require likely to spend on heating the home they’re Either the energy required to be provide a mechanism for fuel poverty-
all homes to meet a minimum fabric energy thinking of buying, and we agree that the supplied by the heating system focused schemes.
efficiency standard equivalent to a C rating by move toward zero direct emissions heating to achieve standardised internal
2033, as well as prohibiting the use of direct systems will help reduce carbon emissions. conditions, including heating, cooling,
emissions heating systems (such as gas and domestic hot water heat demand.
boilers) in both domestic and non-domestic “However, we need to be more aware Heating System Type:
buildings by 2045. Plans have already been of the unintended consequences of the Or the energy required to be supplied
put in place for the latter, with new properties proposals. The installation of ground or air by the heating system to achieve The government wants EPCs to
requiring pre-agreed planning permission to source heat pumps will be expensive and standardised internal conditions, provide information as to whether the
fit gas boilers after April 2024. logistically difficult in many properties. In including heating and cooling demand home’s heating system produces zero
some tenement flats, for instance, it will be but excluding domestic hot water direct emissions, as well as information
However, for many properties and practically impossible. To take Edinburgh as heat demand. about the efficiency of the system.
homeowners, achieving an EPC rating of an example, around two-thirds of the city’s
C (or higher) will be difficult, for logistical housing stock is flats, and many of those will
and financial reasons. Therefore, ESPC has be in one of the city’s two UNESCO World
called on the Scottish Government to work Heritage Sites, which in many cases will
with the industry to support homeowners make it even harder for people to convert
on a number of issues, including looking their heating systems.
at the possibility of exemptions from
the ban on direct emissions heating “That, in turn, means that the C rating the
systems for certain types of buildings, government wants all properties to reach
as well as significant financial support to will be unachievable in many cases, with
help homeowners install heat pumps. potentially severe implications for people
ESPC would also like the government to wishing to sell those homes.”
discuss a wider suite of options, to help
move Scotland’s housing stock, in all its As we anticipate the results of the Scottish
variations, closer to net zero. Government’s consultation, ESPC continues
to support and speak up for homeowners
Paul Hilton, CEO of ESPC, said: “We are across Scotland, helping to ensure that the
in agreement with much of what the positive changes proposed are achievable
government is proposing. for ordinary people throughout the country.

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