How are EPCs enforced?
Local Authority Trading Standards is the enforcement authority. There are fixed penalties for failing to provide an EPC or make one available when required. The fixed penalty for dwellings is 200 per dwelling. There is a six-month time limit for any enforcement action to be taken. There is a right for the landlord to request that penalty notices are reviewed and ultimately there is a right of appeal to the County Court against a penalty notice. Trading Standards have statutory powers to require production of an EPC from landlords if they suspect an offence has been committed. Investigation might follow if a tenant complains that he has not been given an EPC. An EPC will still have to be provided even though a penalty is imposed.
