The Government has made amendments to the Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012 to improve data access related to energy assessment and EPC data. These changes should come into force on 24th June 2024.
Building owners, landlords, and occupiers, as well as third parties with their consent, can now access more data about the energy performance of buildings, including data collected during energy assessments lodged on the register. This is a significant step forward and means more energy efficiency data will be available online to support research and decision-making related to energy efficiency improvements, retrofitting and most importantly help in identifying low-performing buildings for targeted improvements.
Previous restrictions meant that data sharing was highly prohibited to prevent unauthorised access, limiting owners’, landlords’ and occupiers’ access to useful energy performance information about their own properties.
Joe Mellon, Operations Director ecmk commented: “We at ecmk have worked hard with DLUHC and the industry to push for this legislation change. As a result, the change will help deliver invaluable EPC data to stakeholders, help shape important decisions on housing stock, offering the necessary insight to drive targeted investment in improving the energy performance and ultimately reduce energy bills, helping combat fuel poverty and achieve their Net Zero objectives.”
From the 24th June 2024, the Government, accreditation schemes or an energy assessor may disclose assessment data in relation to a particular building, to the owner, landlord or occupier of that building, as well as third parties with their consent.
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities will amend the Scheme Operating Requirements for the production of Energy Certificates guidance. These are the requirements that accreditation schemes must meet in relation to their functions under the Principal Regulations. This updated guidance will be available in due course and ecmk will update members accordingly.
For details on the Regulation amendment click here.