Understanding the variability between Professionally Qualified Domestic Energy Assessors can help people make the correct selection when it comes to the crunch.

In the climate decade, we need to make all new buildings net zero by 2030 and whole lifecycle net zero by 2050 to reduce the impact of the built environment on global emissions. Unlike a domestic EPC, obtaining a commercial EPC can be a lengthy process and could take several weeks. This is because commercial properties come in a wide range of sizes and shapes and different areas (basements, loading bays attics etc). This makes it more difficult for an EPC provider to assess. The certificate will include details of: construction, insulation types, the area of glazing and how each internal space is used, together with equipment used for ventilation, heating and air conditioning. Most buyers these days will know the financial implications of buying a property with a lower EPC rating and it’s very possible in the future that taxes and benefits will be increasingly tied to a property’s EPC, making the cost of reducing the carbon emissions a factor that should be considered when buying. It is also worth noting that since April 2012, an EPC rating of band D or higher has been needed if you want to have solar panels installed and receive the standard rate from the ‘Feed-in Tariff’. The body responsible for obtaining the Commercial EPC certificate when it is legally required will be the seller, landlord or an agent. They will have to make a commercial EPC available for the building that is being sold or leased. When a lease assignment is taking place, the law considers a sale to have taken place and the assign or should provide the commercial EPC. For new builds, the responsibility falls to the person carrying out the construction to provide the EPC to the owner, and Building Control will not issue a certificate until they are satisfied this has been done. In relation to modifications, a EPC is only needed if the fixed services (heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning) are changed. Whilst it is obligatory for home owners to have a domestic EPC if they are looking to sell or rent their property, there are other benefits as well. Your domestic EPC will give you (and future occupants) the chance to see how energy efficient your house is now, but also in the future. The recommendations that are given mean that you can make your property more attractive to potential buyers or tenants by making it more energy efficient. To date, the EPC rating for a property has served as a useful indicator of environmental efficiency. However, come the introduction of MEES in April 2018 the EPC rating for a property will take on additional and increased significance:

Note that an EPC doesn’t take into account how energy is used – so even though the energy rating of a building is poor, the energy bills may be very low, because the owners don’t heat and light it very much. Commercial EPCs with good ratings generally have a positive impact on the market value and perception of the property. If you're a letting agent, property owner, or landlord planning to let or sell your commercial building, Prop Cert's energy assessors can be of service. The EPC will give you a list of the top actions you can take to make your home more efficient, such as installing low energy lighting, or high heat retention storage heaters. As of April 2018, minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) are being demanded of domestic lettings – a property will have to be rated ‘E’ or above in order to be let out. If you let out your property when it does not meet the minimum standards, you could face a fine of up to £150,000, dependent on the value of the property. If you let out your property without a valid EPC, you could face a £200 fine. An understanding of the challenges met by mees regulations can enhance the value of a project.

Follow The Recommendations

Any building that is even partially occupied by a public authority such as a local council, college or NHS Trust and has a total floor space greater than 250 square metres and, which is regularly visited by the public has to have a DEC on display on a page no smaller than A3 size in an easily accessible location. Failure to do so can incur a £500 fine. Private organisations aren’t required to have a DEC, but they do need to have an EPC. Domestic EPCs input lighting in a building by counting the number of total lights and the total number of energy-efficient lights. It makes a difference in the final energy rating by one or two points if you go from old lighting to a new efficient lighting system. A single point makes all the difference in aiming to boost your EPC rating. A commercial property team can advise and support on engaging with existing occupants of properties where works need to be done, or ensuring that existing and/or new leases include relevant EPC provisions. Given that the energy performance certificate is valid for such a long time, we can easily forget if our certificate is still valid, or when it needs to be renewed. You don’t need to worry though as you can easily and quickly see if you have one by going to the Non-Domestic EPC Register and entering the postcode of the property. Commercial property owners should always have an energy performance certificate (EPC) completed in order to better understand their energy usage and costs. There are different types of EPCs, so it's important to choose the one that best suits your needs. An EPC can help you find savings on your energy bills, identify potential problems early on, and improve your overall security profile. Make sure to contact a qualified provider who will be able to provide you with a free consultation. There are multiple approaches to facilitating a non domestic epc register in the workplace.

An EPC is only required when a building is constructed, sold or rented out. For the purposes of the regulations, a building is defined as 'a roofed construction having walls, for which energy is used to condition the indoor climate, and a reference to a building includes a reference to part of a building which has been designed or altered to be used separately'. As from 1st October 2008 all Commercial Buildings over 50m² (see exemptions below) require a Non-Domestic Energy Performance Certificate. The purpose of the Non-Domestic EPC is to assess a buildings’ CO2 emissions in line with the requirements of Building Regulations (Part L). The Standard Assessment Procedure ( SAP ) is the practice used by the UK Government to assess and compare the energy and environmental performance of dwellings for the building and construction industry.  SAP Assessments are often carried out as part of Government set building regulations that require that a SAP calculation and a predicted EPC are carried out on new dwellings prior to the commencement of work. From 2018 it will be illegal to let a property which has an EPC rating below E, It is recognised that there are some properties that will not reach an E rating and the Energy Assessor will note this on the EPC and a note of the highest possible rating will also appear. Energy rating assessors generally consult for a wide range of customers in the commercial setting, including architects, developers, and building designers. Energy rating assessors by and large counsel for a wide scope of clients in the business setting, including modellers, engineers, and building fashioners. Advising on matters such as mees will provide benefits in the long run.

Improved Running Costs

A Commercial EPC gives a property an energy efficiency rating from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). It indicates the energy efficiency of the buildings fabric and the heating, ventilation, cooling and lighting system. The rating is compared to two bench marks for this type of building: one appropriate for new buildings and one appropriate for existing buildings. Holiday lets may not need an EPC. An EPC will only be required for a property rented out as a furnished holiday let, as defined by HMRC, where the building is occupied for the purposes of a holiday as a result of a short term letting arrangement of less than 31 days to each tenant, and is rented out for a combined total of four months or more in any 12 month period, and if the occupier is responsible for meeting the energy costs for the property. If your Energy Performance Certificate has expired, you’ll need to get a new one issued. You can get one through a domestic energy assessor or an estate agent if you’re selling your home. If your EPC rating is low you may have to deal with an EPC Certificate cost. More specifically, if your rating is below E, it's illegal to rent or sell your property. Not only that, but also a low rating like the one mentioned affects your home's value and salability. As reasonable, an EPC Certificate cost is worth paying for in order to improve your home's energy efficiency. Providing an EPC on construction or modification of a nondwelling When a building being constructed is physically complete, it is the responsibility of the person carrying out the construction to give an EPC and recommendation report to the building owner and to notify building control that this has been done. Building control will not issue a certificate of completion until they are satisfied this has been done. A service such as a epc commercial property is an invaluable asset in the heady world of business.

An EPC have ever-changing standards and guidelines, and you must adhere to them. The most recent EPC rating requirement revision occurred in 2018, mandating that all new tenancies must have an EPC rating of “E” or higher. However, the laws and regulations governing EPCs for landlords have undergone substantial adjustments in the years after that. Energy efficient improvements may need to be carried out or an exemption may need to be registered on the Private Rented Sector (PRS) Exemptions Register if the property cannot be improved to meet the minimum standard. For example, a landlord will be able to continue to let a substandard property where it can be shown that efficiency measures would decrease the property’s value by 5% or more, or a temporary exemption of six months can be granted to new landlords. Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are needed for most domestic properties being marketed for sale or let. Only accredited domestic energy assessors will be able to carry out assessments to produce Energy Performance Certificates Trafford Surveyors employ in-house BRE-accredited Energy Assessors, who produce EPCs for all types of properties. Information on an EPC gives the potential homeowner a guide to the energy costs of running a house for 3 years based on standard occupancy. It gives the house an energy rating on a scale A to G, A being excellent G the worst rating. Inefficient homes paired with high fuel bills means more people falling into fuel poverty. Action is even more urgent as the number of households expected to be in fuel poverty this winter reaches nearly 12 million as a result of the energy price cap increase. Some top-down provisions have been made to stem the tide. Part of the Governments’ fuel poverty strategy, Sustainable Warmth, includes a grant scheme designed to get as many fuel poor homes as possible to a Band C. However, more action on the ground is needed. Formulating opinions on matters such as  commercial epc can be a time consuming process.

Recommendations Report

The built environment has been identified by government as a major contributor to Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and thus poses a threat to the UK meeting its carbon reduction targets for 2020 and 2050. Government estimates that 18% of commercial properties hold the lowest EPC ratings of F or G. While Building Regulations ensure that new properties meet current energy efficiency standards, MEES will tackle the UK's older buildings. To query any information on your EPC, householders should contact the energy assessor who produced the EPC (name and contact details are provided on the EPC). It is also worth checking the issue date on the EPC, as it is more likely that an EPC issued within the last few years will be the most accurate. From April 2023, it will be a legal requirement for all commercial rented properties to have an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) rating of at least E. This is currently a legal requirement for commercial and residential properties before they can receive a new or renewal lease, but from next year this requirement will be extended to both new and existing commercial leases too. You can find additional insights relating to Professionally Qualified Domestic Energy Assessors at this  UK Government Website entry.

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