Better regs body urges delay of energy ratings

The government is being urged to delay the introduction of energy performance certificates in Home Information Packs.

The Better Regulation Commission said that the requirement for a new EPC every time a home went on the market would increase the costs of moving substantially.

In addition it warned that there may not be enough certificated energy assessors available by 1 June when the EPCs are introduced in Home Information Packs.

BRC chair Rick Haythornthwaite said: "Here we have an example of proposals that are not part of clear strategic framework and impose additional admin burdens with inadequate justification."

The BRC said the government proposals go beyond the requirements of a European directive which stated that home energy certificates only have to be updated every ten years.

In a scathing attack on the proposed energy certificates the BRC said that the DCLG issued its consultation without any evidence that its 'gold plating' of the directive would lead to more energy savings.

Haythornthwaite said: "In our recent review of the regulatory aspects of the Stern report, we explicitly cautioned against ill considered regulatory responses to the climate chanage challenge, and using climate change as a justification for measures which have other motivations."