Energy Performance Certificates: guide
Energy performance certificates (EPCs) explain how energy efficient a building is and how it could be improved.
Short term let accommodation
Where an EPC is required
Short term lets - such as accommodation let out for holiday use - are required to provide a valid EPC (as are all types of let).
Short term lets may be required to provide an EPC as part of a short-term lets licence application. We provide guidance on the information that may be required as part of that application.
Adverts for let must also include the rating in commercial media (see the Requirements section for more information). If you're letting out an entire house or flat as a short-term let, the short-term let licencing scheme also requires you to display the EPC rating on listings for the property, for example "EPC – C".
Where an EPC is not required
As with other types of let, an EPC is not required where only a room within a building, such as a hotel room, is being let.
Other examples where an EPC is not required include:
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caravan holiday homes
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bed and breakfast
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guest house accommodation
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certain holiday parks
Where a holiday booking does not allow the buyer to select specific accommodation at the time of booking, there is no requirement for an EPC to be provided or included in the advert, since the specific accommodation to be allocated has not been identified.
Assessment
If an EPC is required, an assessor will be able to advise whether a domestic or non-domestic EPC should be produced. You can find an assessor using the Scottish EPC Register assessor search. Your local authority may also be able to help determine the requirements for a specific property. It is the owner's responsibility to ensure the building is described consistently, for example in adverts or contractual documents.
Read how to get an EPC for more information.
Enforcement
The Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2008 do not contain a general exemption for holiday let accommodation. Local authorities have powers to enforce the regulations. If a building owner is unsure about their obligations, they should seek their own legal advice.
Contact
Email: EPCenquiries@gov.scot