Building compliance quick check
- 4 steps
UK Statutory Instrument
2012
England and Wales
Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
27 compliance obligations, 6 practical guides across 2 topics · 3 journeys
Penalty landscape
2 of 27 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 1 carries different penalties and 24 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Operator 7
- Any Person 4
- Trader 4
- Responsible Person 3
- Occupier 1
Plus 8 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Step-by-step journeys using this legislation
Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Direct — cites this Act
2 guidesSupporting — topic alignment
3 guidesMentioned in related content
1 guidesOther Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Operators also bound by 730 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 (Air Operations) 2012 138 duties
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2066 of 19 December 2018 on the monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and amending Commission Regulation (EU) No 601/2012 (Text with EEA relevance) 2018 121 duties
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 601/2012 of 21 June 2012 on the monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (Text with EEA relevance) (repealed) 2012 112 duties
- Space Industry Regulations 2021 2021 75 duties
- Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health (‘Animal Health Law’) (Text with EEA relevance) 2016 66 duties
Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
Traders also bound by 826 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 1995 413 duties
- Companies Act 2006 2006 243 duties
- The Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 2008 114 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 62 duties
- Building Societies Act 1986 1986 56 duties
Responsible Persons also bound by 104 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- MH(CT)(S)A 2003 2003 45 duties
- Climate Change Levy (General) Regulations 2001 2001 24 duties
- The Offshore Installations (Prevention of Fire and Explosion, and Emergency Response) Regulations 1995 1995 21 duties
- Offshore Installations (Offshore Safety Directive) (Safety Case ) Regulations 2015 2015 21 duties
- The Offshore Installations (Safety Case) Regulations 2005 2005 19 duties
Occupiers also bound by 259 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 2021 39 duties
- Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (England) (No. 2) Order 2006 2006 34 duties
- The Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995 1995 34 duties
- Highways Act 1980 1980 23 duties
- Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations 2015 2015 18 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Part 1 — Introductory
Recommendation reports
- Include cost-effective recommendations and validity dates in energy reports Operator
Browse 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 2 — Duties relating to Energy Performance Certificates
Energy performance certificates on sale and rent
Fine up to £5,000- Provide a free Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) to buyers or tenants Responsible Person
Energy performance certificates on construction
- Provide an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) when a building is built Trader
Energy performance certificates on marketing
- Secure an Energy Performance Certificate before marketing a property Any Person
Energy performance certificates in respect of excluded buildings
- Ensure EPCs for excluded buildings meet specific privacy and data standards Any Person
Display of energy performance certificates
- Display an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) in public buildings Trader
Statement of energy performance rating
- Include energy performance rating in property adverts Trader
Browse 5 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 3 — Display Energy Certificates
Duties relating to display energy certificates and recommendation reports
- Display energy certificates and maintain recommendation reports Occupier
Display energy certificates for excluded buildings
- Energy assessor must not register data for excluded buildings Operator
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Display energy certificates
Change of occupier
Part 4 — Inspection of Air-conditioning systems
Reports in respect of excluded buildings
- Provide a written report for inspections of excluded buildings Operator
Reports
- Produce written air-conditioning inspection report after inspection Operator
Keeping of records etc
- Keep and transfer air-conditioning inspection reports Responsible Person
Changes of relevant person
- Arrange air conditioning inspection when taking over a system Responsible Person
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 5 — Energy Assessors
Accreditation schemes
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must ensure energy assessor accreditation schemes are robust Crown / Minister / Government department
Related party disclosures
- Disclose personal or business relationships in energy reports Operator
Duty of care
- Carry out energy assessments with reasonable care and skill Operator
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Right to copy documents
Meaning of energy assessment
Part 6 — Registration and Disclosure of Data Relating to Certificates and Reports
Registration of certificates etc
- Register energy certificates and reports before providing them to clients Operator
Disclosure of data: general
Unlimited fine- Disclose energy performance data without permission Any Person
Browse 7 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Fees for entering data onto register
Disclosure of general access data
Disclosure of bulk access data
Disclosure by keeper of register
Fee for disclosure of bulk access data
Disclosure of assessment data
Publication of bulk access data on a website
Part 7 — Enforcement
Enforcement and local authority buildings
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authorities must arrange for independent enforcement of their own buildings Local authority
Enforcement plans
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Enforcement authorities must create and follow enforcement plans Local authority
Annual reports by enforcement authorities
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Enforcement authorities must report annual activity to the Secretary of State Local authority
Enforcement authorities
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authorities must enforce energy performance regulations Local authority
Penalty charge notices
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authorities may issue penalty charge notices for energy breaches Local authority
Reviews
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Enforcement authority must review penalty charge notices upon request Local authority
Offences relating to enforcement officers
Unlimited fine- Obstruct or impersonate an enforcement officer Any Person
Browse 6 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 8 — Miscellaneous
Duty to cooperate
- Allow energy assessors access to your building Trader
Review
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must review energy performance regulations every five years Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Application to the Crown
Revocations
Schedules
Browse 39 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Citation, application, extent and commencement
Meanings of regular and large data packs
Revocation of Regulations
In this Part, “residential property” means premises in England and...
For data from which an energy performance certificate for a...
For data from which an energy performance certificate for a...
For data from which a display energy certificate may be...
For data from which an inspection report may be produced—...
The information about a green deal plan to be included...
The unique reference number assigned to the green deal plan....
The name of the person (“G”) who is the green...
G’s electronic mail address and telephone number.
The date on which the payment period starts and the...
The amount payable under the green deal plan—
The rate of interest charged under the green deal plan....
A statement indicating whether the interest rate charged under the...
Where, in accordance with regulation 33(b) of the Green Deal...
The estimated first year savings.
Where the green deal property is a domestic property, a...
The date on which the energy performance certificate ceases to...
Where the green deal property is a non-domestic property, a...
In respect of each improvement installed at the green deal...
A statement advising the person receiving the energy performance certificate—...
A statement indicating that— (a) the improvements installed under the...
A statement indicating that further information is contained in the...
Where G knows or has reasonable cause to believe that...
Where G knows or has reasonable cause to believe that...
A statement indicating that a new energy performance certificate should...
A statement— (a) indicating that improvements have been installed at...
A statement indicating— (a) that a green deal plan is...
Where the green deal plan is a regulated consumer credit...
Where the green deal plan is not a regulated consumer...
A statement indicating that— (a) the outstanding credit under the...
Where a term has been included in a green deal...
In this Schedule, “residential building” means premises in England or...
For data from which an energy performance certificate for a...
For data from which an energy performance certificate for a...
For data from which a display energy certificate may be...
For data from which an inspection report may be produced,...
Other sections — not classified into a Part
These sections sit outside the numbered Parts — usually provisions added or moved by later amendments.
Browse 2 other sections
Green deal information
Specified data items for online publication
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- Non-Domestic EPC Register - Find an accredited assessor (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Refcom - F-gas company certification (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- GOV.UK - Air conditioning inspections for buildings (opens in a new tab) from MHCLG Publication
- DAERA - Fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gas) (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Non-domestic private rented property minimum energy efficiency standards (GOV.UK) (opens in a new tab) from DESNZ Detailed Guidance
- EPC Register - Find an energy certificate (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- PRS Exemptions Register (GOV.UK) (opens in a new tab) from DESNZ Publication
- Department of Finance NI - Energy Performance of Buildings (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Scottish Government - Energy Performance Certificates (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Fluorinated gases (F-gases) guidance (GOV.UK) (opens in a new tab) from Environment Agency Detailed Guidance
- ... and 1 more
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Local Authority
PrimaryLocal Authority (Environmental Health / Licensing / Planning)
Local councils enforce food safety (via Environmental Health Officers), issue alcohol licences, grant planning permission, and regulate certain business activities at local …
Trading Standards (Local Authority)
Enforces consumer protection legislation including food labelling, weights and measures, product safety, and fair trading. Part of local authority structure. Investigates food …
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Browse legislation
Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.
Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.