The due date for landlords and property owners is less than 2 months to obtain and display Energy Performance Certificates (EPC). The due date to comply with is 7 December 2022. EPCs are now mandatory for private, non-residential, non-industrial buildings with a total net floor area of over 2000sqm, and government buildings of over 1000sqm.
Section 19(1)(b) of the National Energy Act, published regulations for the mandatory display and submission of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) for buildings in Notice 700 of Government Gazette 43792 of 8 December 2020. Landlords who fail to comply risk a possible fine of R5 million, five years imprisonment or both.
What is an Energy Performance Certificate?
A building’s energy performance refers to the net energy consumed in kilowatt hours per square meter per annum (kWh/m2/year). An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) accounts for all major energy consuming systems including heating, cooling, ventilation, hot water and lighting; and, once obtained, is valid for a period of 5 years.
EPC’s will be available publicly and will give greater knowledge to buyers about the historical consumption of a building. Similar EPC’s have been in effect in Europe and the UK since 2007, where they are required when selling a property.
You can access the regulations here.
