Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to his Department's consultation, Energy performance certificate in buildings: call for evidence, published in October 2018, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of off-grid properties switching from lower carbon to higher carbon forms of heating in order to obtain a higher energy performance certificate rating.

The replacement of a heating system must always be carried out in accordance with Building Regulations. Replacing an existing appliance with a less carbon efficient one is not compliant with Building Regulations and any suspected breaches of this should be reported to Building Control in the appropriate Local Authority. Replacing a heating system with a higher carbon option will not be given as a recommended measure to improve the building’s rating on an EPC as this would be contrary to Building Regulations.

The Domestic Buildings Services Compliance Guide (2013) provides further information on this: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/697525/DBSCG_secure.pdf.

We are considering the responses to our call for evidence on EPCs and will respond in due course.