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Monday 29th June – Conference – Shaping The Future

Key Takeaways – PEPA Conference (29 June 2026)

The overarching message from the conference was that the energy assessment sector remains busy and resilient, but is entering a period of major transformation driven by EPC reform, MEES requirements, the Home Energy Model (HEM), and broader property resilience initiatives.

1. Strong Demand Despite Uncertainty

  • Domestic EPC activity remains very strong, with 2026 currently tracking as the second-strongest January–May period on record.
  • Demand for energy assessment services continues despite significant policy reforms and uncertainty.

2. Significant EPC Reform is Coming

  • EPCs will move away from a single energy-cost rating to multiple metrics:
    • Fabric Performance
    • Heating System
    • Smart Readiness
    • Energy Cost
  • The aim is to provide a more meaningful picture of building performance and support net-zero objectives.

3. Home Energy Model (HEM) Delayed but Critical

  • The transition from SAP to the Home Energy Model is now expected in the second half of 2027.
  • Assessors will need substantial upskilling, with new competency, auditing and compliance requirements.
  • New digital platforms will underpin assessments and reporting.

4. MEES Requirements Will Drive Future Work

  • Private rented homes are expected to meet EPC C-equivalent standards by 2030.
  • Large commercial rented properties (>1,000m²) are expected to require EPC B by 2031.
  • These changes are likely to generate significant demand for assessments, advice and compliance support.

5. Scotland is Taking a Different Approach

  • Scotland plans to introduce new EPC ratings focused on:
    • Heat Retention
    • Heating System Performance
    • Energy Costs
  • EPC validity is expected to reduce from 10 years to 5 years.
  • Stronger auditing and a new assessor accreditation scheme are proposed.
  • Implementation has been delayed until 2027 to align with HEM.

6. Warm Homes Plan Creates Major Opportunities

Government ambitions include:

  • Upgrading up to 5 million homes.
  • Installing over 450,000 heat pumps annually by 2030.
  • Increasing solar deployment.
  • Lifting up to 1 million households out of fuel poverty.
  • Creating up to 180,000 jobs.

7. Commercial Market is Mixed

  • Commercial EPC volumes have fallen, partly due to uncertainty around future non-domestic MEES requirements.
  • Demand for Display Energy Certificates (DECs) is growing.
  • Air Conditioning Inspections are up approximately 20%, driven by stronger enforcement and penalties.

8. Flood Resilience is Emerging as a New Assessment Area

  • Flood Performance Certificates (FPCs) are being developed as a potential equivalent to EPCs for flood resilience.
  • Insurers, lenders and government are increasingly interested in property-level flood resilience data.
  • This could create a new professional opportunity for assessors beyond traditional energy assessments.

9. Landlords Support Efficiency Improvements but Cost Remains a Barrier

  • Many landlords have already invested in achieving EPC C.
  • Cost is the biggest concern, with £10,000 seen as a key affordability threshold.
  • Lack of grant funding, uncertainty over future rules, and challenges with older properties are creating concern.
  • There is a risk that some landlords may sell properties rather than invest in expensive upgrades.

Summary

For assessors, the profession is expanding beyond traditional EPC production. Future success will depend on adapting to new EPC metrics, HEM, stricter quality assurance, MEES compliance, and potentially new services such as flood resilience assessments. While policy change creates uncertainty, it is also expected to generate substantial new opportunities across both domestic and commercial markets.

The Property Energy Professionals Association (PEPA) is a trade body which represents accreditation schemes that are engaged in the provision of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), Display Energy Certificates (DECs) and Air Conditioning Inspection Reports (ACIRs).  More recently PEPA has been involved in the launch and implementation of the PAS 2035 standards, which involve Retrofit Assessors (RAs) and Retrofit Coordinators (RCs) via the TrustMark Quality Scheme. Members of the Association are primarily composed of the Certification companies that oversee Energy Assessors in the production of EPCs, DECs, ACIRs, PAS 2035 Retrofit Assessments and Coordination Projects.

EPCs have now become central to the building sales and lettings process, with all properties requiring one.  They, along with Retrofit Assessments and Coordination Projects are also intrinsic to various Government initiatives such as ECO, LADS, HUGS, ESOS, Social Housing Decarbonisation, Section 63, Building Regulations and the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES).

PEPA works closely with the various government departments ie the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), with particular reference to the association’s objectives. Other bodies that PEPA works with include Ofgem, Energy Saving Trust (EST), British Energy Efficiency Federation (BEEF), and TrustMark, and is represented on various working groups.

PEPA is dedicated to a quality agenda and in working with all interested parties and stakeholders to ensure EPCs, DECs and ACIRs, and the methodologies behind them have increased visibility, are regarded as important, and they act as a catalyst in improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions as we move towards a Net Zero future.

The PEPA Manifesto

In the next 5 years it is PEPA policy that:

  • Every building in the UK should have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), Asset Rating and an Operational Rating which will allow occupants to understand the quality of the building and the impact that their behaviours can have on energy efficiency
  • Every building in the UK, that has an Air Conditioning System over 12kW, should have a valid Air Conditioning Inspection report, which will allow system owners and operators to understand how efficient the current system is, identify potential energy savings and provide advice and guidance on how to make improvements for the future
  • The validity period of energy certificates should be reduced:
    • EPCs should have a validity of 3 years and be renewed whenever there is a change to the building which effects its energy performance
    • Display Energy Certificates (DECs) should have a validity of one year, for all buildings, regardless of size
  • The National Calculation Methodologies: SAP, RdSAP, SBEM and Operational Rating, should be promoted to all stakeholders as the fundamental benchmarking tool for all energy efficiency strategies, and as a requirement to access funds under all Government incentives and grant schemes.
  • The energy rating of a property should have a direct impact on stamp duty and council tax, such that buyers and owners of energy efficient properties will pay less.
  • There should be ongoing improvement and development of energy assessors and the underlying methodologies for measuring energy efficiency

To achieve these policies PEPA will:

  • Ensure that EPCs and DECs are constantly improved to provide the best possible information to consumers and businesses
  • Ensure that there is a robust quality regime that tests the accuracy of EPCs and DECs regularly and in a statistically valid manner.
  • Ensure that there is full compliance with the EPBD regulations through:
    • Identifying instances of non-compliance with the use of appropriate tools for both non-domestic properties and domestic properties
    • Working with an enforcement agency that is effective (such as National Trading Standards Board) to ensure that there is proactive and meaningful enforcement.
    • Establishing a process for identifying those properties that should have an EPC, DEC or Air Conditioning Report and thereafter an effective enforcement methodology.
  • Lobby Government to demonstrate the extent to which it values energy efficiency by adopting a ‘carrot and stick’ approach for businesses and consumers. The carrot should be direct and delivered through lower household taxes and/or lower stamp duty on property transfer. The stick can be delivered enforcing the minimum energy efficiency rating regulations in the private rented sector and then raising the threshold to achieve a minimum of ‘EPC rating of C by 2035’.
  • Draw up a plan for the effective promotion of energy efficiency information aimed at:
    • Government and third sector organisations (such as FoE and WWF) in order that they can play a full part in promoting EPCs and DECs
    • Businesses centred on the opportunity to save costs and ultimately improve the value of their properties.
    • Consumers based on the opportunity to save money through lower household energy bills and pay lower taxes (subject to 4 above).
  • Introduce ‘in-home’ energy advice delivered by suitably trained energy assessors to assist property owners improve the energy efficiency of their properties and reduce costs and carbon emissions.
  • Develop a regime for the promotion and use of the NCMs in a wider context than certification. This would include new uses and tools within different sectors.
Property Energy Professionals Association is a non-profit organisation limited by guarantee. PEPA Ltd is registered in England, Company number. 06661965