When a building is constructed or modified in such a way that includes the provision or extension of services then it is the responsibility of the person carrying out the works to obtain and provide an the owner of the building with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and to notify the local authority’s Building Control that this has been done. Crucially a Building Regulation completion certificate will not be issued until this is satisfied. An EPC is accompanied by a Recommendation Report which will help to improve the energy rating of a building and indicates payback periods for each recommendation. If a building is to be offered for sale or let then it is the responsibility of the seller or the prospective landlord to make an EPC available to prospective buyers/tenants. A lease assignment is considered to be a sale or letting and therefore the above applies. The only exceptions are lease renewals or extensions, compulsory purchase orders and lease surrenders. It is very clear that the onus is on the seller/landlord to ensure that it is in place, not the agent if one is used and it is their responsibility to ensure the agent is acting correctly in complying with the regulations.