Scottish government failing landlords over EPCs

19 November 2008

Natalie Holt

The Scottish government is failing to prepare landlords for the introduction of Energy Performance Certificates, warns the National Landlords Association Scotland.

From January 4 next year landlords who fail to make an EPC available to tenants at the start of a tenancy could face a £5,000 fine and will have committed a criminal offence.

The Scottish trade body is concerned that there has not been sufficient effort to promote EPCs.

Jim Parker, chairman of NLA Scotland, says: “It is disappointing to see Scottish government failing in its duty to keep landlords informed. The promotion of EPCs seems to have been left to the commercial providers and a significant number of landlords will be blissfully unaware of the risks of not complying with the new rules.

“All landlords starting new tenancies will need to get an EPC or face severe penalties. If the government does not act soon to promote the legislation, thousands of landlords could find themselves unknowingly breaking the law and fined to the tune of £5,000.”