Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the evaluation criteria used for Energy Performance Certificates for the private rental sector.

EPCs are intended to provide prospective buyers and tenants with a guide to the energy performance of different properties, in a way which is simple to understand and comparable between properties. The Government believes that energy certificates have an important role to play to improve the energy efficiency of new and existing buildings to enable the Government to meet its ambitious net zero carbon emission targets. The Department has commenced work on developing a future version of Reduced Data Standard Assessment Procedure (RdSAP), the methodology used to produce Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) for existing dwellings. The Government is also working on proposals to improve EPC metrics, with a view to consulting on these later this year, taking into account the recently published proposals from the Climate Change Committee.