The proposed timetable for bringing in mandatory Energy Performance Certificates for Jersey at the point of sale or new rentals and introducing new minimum standards for energy efficiency in properties has been laid out by the Assistant Minister for the Environment.
Currently known as Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), under the planned new legislation it is proposed that these are renamed as Jersey Energy Performance Assessments (JEPA). This change of name aims to provide clarity that the Jersey assessments are different to the UK equivalent.
The assessment tells you how efficient a property is, giving it a rating from A (very efficient) to G (inefficient). The assessment is valid for ten years.
Under the new plans, from 1 January 2026, there will be a requirement for a Jersey Energy Performance Assessment to be in place for each property sold or starting a new rental agreement.
No earlier than 1 January 2028, minimum energy performance standards will be introduced to encourage improvements to the more poorly performing buildings.
The Assistant Minister for the Environment, Deputy Hilary Jeune, said: “It’s important that we give Islanders and the industry some clarity about our proposed timetable for implementing mandatory Energy Performance Certificates for all properties sold or those going through new rental agreements.
“The assessments are designed to drive up standards, make properties more energy efficient, and give Islanders a list of improvements, potentially saving money on energy costs through investing in energy efficiency changes. In a period of uncertainty over rising energy costs, this will give Islanders considering buying, renting or investing in a property the opportunity to compare it with others.
“We have listened to feedback and pushed back the date for introducing the minimum standards until at least 2028, to ensure there is time to develop appropriate benchmarks and a robust and reliable methodology. We’re reviewing the way in which we do the assessments, beginning to draft the detail of the proposed new legislation, and we’ll consult on that in 2024. We invite stakeholders to engage in this consultation to help us find the methodology that works best for Jersey, taking lessons learnt from other jurisdictions.”
Any minimum standards will include appropriate exemptions for certain building types or categories, for example historic buildings.
