Scotland’s EPC register fee rises as main certificate reforms move to 2028

Scotland’s permitted EPC register lodgement fee rises to £6 for a home on 31 October 2026, while the main switch to new-style energy performance certificates has been moved to 30 April 2028. These are separate changes, with different implications for a household preparing to sell, buy or rent.

The Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2026 were made on 28 October. The provisions postponing the main reforms took effect on 30 October; the register and fee provisions take effect on 31 October. They apply to Scotland only.

£6 is the register fee, not an EPC quote

For a dwelling, the fee permitted for registering the certificate data rises from £2.60 to £6: a £3.40 difference. This is not the total price of an assessor’s visit, an EPC assessment or a Home Report. It also does not mean every customer’s quote will increase by exactly £3.40.

The Scottish Government’s guide to obtaining an EPC says there is no standard assessment price. Ask for an itemised quotation and confirm what it includes. If you already have a Home Report quotation, check whether its price and included services remain valid before adding another charge to your selling-cost budget.

The new certificate system starts later

The amended legislation moves the main commencement date for the 2025 EPC regulations from 31 October 2026 to 30 April 2028. The government’s reform update explains the revised timetable and transition arrangements. The new certificate format and validity rules are not starting this weekend.

That postponement does not remove existing EPC duties. Sellers and landlords still need to check the requirements for their particular transaction. The current selling guidance says an EPC is included in a Home Report and must be provided free to the purchaser. The letting guidance says a new tenant must receive it free of charge.

Before commissioning work, check whether the property already has a valid EPC and ask your assessor or selling agent what your transaction requires. Today’s fee change does not itself require every homeowner to replace a certificate. Our Scotland Home Reports guide helps organise the paperwork alongside your moving plans.