Energy Reports by non-RICS members
The question has been asked whether or not someone who can provide domestic EPCs in Scotland through a non-RICS protocol (such as Elmhurst or BRE) can also provide the energy report section of the Home Report. A situation where this might be desirable is if a chartered surveyor was doing a Home Report for a large house, but wished to outsource the energy report section.
RICS Scotland, whilst not opposed in principle would not recommend that this be done for the following reasons:
The Regulation states:
5.
— (1) The persons who may prepare the prescribed document set out in Schedule 1 are surveyors registered with or authorised to practise by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
The prescribed document as outlined in Schedule 1 is a single document containing both the single survey and energy report. Therefore, an RICS member's name must be on the energy report/EPC as well as the single survey. This means that the RICS members should not instruct non-RICS members to provide the energy report. Similarly, any Home Report which has an energy report compiled by a non-RICS member will not be compliant with the legislation.
Whilst we acknowledge that there are people who are adequately trained by non-RICS EPC protocol organisations and are not opposed to it in principle, RICS members should only provide the energy report themselves or instruct a fellow RICS member to do so, so that they are providing a valid document.
The legislation reflects Scottish Government's one-stop shop policy that the energy report and single survey be done at the same time, by the same person. Ultimately of course, it is down to the courts to interperet legislation, so members may wish to take their own legal advice.
To discuss further, please contact Neil Freshwater (0131 240 0897 or nfreshwater@rics.org).