The Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2025 modernise Scotland’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) system.
They were laid before the Scottish Parliament on 10 October 2025 and will come into force on 31 October 2026.
These new regulations:
Yes.
Self-catering and short-term let properties are explicitly included in the new EPC framework.
“Short term lets are normally continuously advertised and therefore on day one of the new regulations, it would not be possible for all hosts to immediately obtain a new-style EPC… Short term let properties will therefore have a full one-year grace period in which to obtain a new-style EPC… after 31 October 2027, only the new-style EPC and property report issued under the 2025 Regulations will be allowed for the letting of a building as a short term let.”¹
No new minimum standards have been introduced yet.
The 2025 Regulations are administrative, not regulatory. They:
“The changes being made through the revised regulations are administrative in nature. They will not change the circumstances in which an EPC is currently required, when a property is advertised for sale or let, other than reducing the EPC validity period.”²
However, EPC reforms will underpin future mandatory minimum standards, expected to be introduced through:
“EPCs could be used as a basis for setting minimum energy efficiency standards and providing evidence on how a building would meet such standards.”³
| Date | Requirement / Event |
| 10 Oct 2025 | Regulations laid before Scottish Parliament |
| 31 Oct 2026 | Regulations come into force |
| 31 Oct 2027 | New EPC format mandatory for all short-term lets |
| Ongoing | EPCs required when a property is advertised for sale or let |
| Every 5 years | EPC renewal now required (previously every 10 years) |
| Issue | Position (2025–2027) |
| Inclusion of self-catering properties | Explicitly included |
| EPC requirement | Mandatory |
| EPC validity period | Reduced to 5 years |
| Minimum EPC standard | None yet introduced |
| Transition deadline | 31 October 2027 |
Author of guidance: ASSC
Date of guidance: October 2025
Version Number: V1
Disclaimer – Guidance Sheets are written by experienced Members of the ASSC and other experts. The information in the ‘Guidance Sheet’ is provided by the ASSC for use by Members in support of their own independent business decisions. It does not constitute advice or instruction for which the ASSC can be held liable in any way whatsoever. All Members and other readers remain responsible for the consequences of any decisions taken whether in the light of information gained from this Guidance Sheet or not.