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Understanding the difference between Commercial Energy Performance Certificate Assessors can facilitate people make the correct decision when it comes to the crunch. Most EPC reports will include at least one recommendation on how to improve your properties rating, you are under no obligation to implement the recommendation although by doing so you may be improving the desirability of your property to prospective tenants. Non-compliance with MEES could result in enforcement action and a fine. For breaches with a length of less than three months, the maximum penalty for commercial properties is £5,000 or 10% of the rateable value of the property. For breaches with a length of more than three months, the penalty doubles: the maximum penalty is £10,000 or 20% of the rateable value of the property. Standard occupancy, heating patterns and hot water use are assumed when working out the EPC, to ensure the EPCs for different homes can be compared by prospective buyers or tenants. The EPC costs account for energy used for heating, lighting and hot water, but do not include other energy uses in a property, for example cooking or the number of electrical appliances. An EPC is calculated based on standard occupancy rather than how an individual uses the property and appliance use can vary significantly between users. With relatively simple changes such as insulation, lagging pipes and energy efficient light bulbs, you can not only increase your property price for sale, but also reduce your energy bills while you live in it. Those looking to stay for a longer time will see greater benefits from investing in insulation, or in renewable energy sources such as solar panels and biomass boilers. We fully recommend looking into all the ways to increase your EPC and then getting an updated certificate to reflect the improvements. A rental property with a good EPC rating is a good advert for potential tenants as it gives a guide to the running costs of the dwelling over a three year period with regards to lighting, heating and hot water. A recent survey by Countrywide Surveying Services found that 71% of property professionals believe valuers should take into account EPC ratings when pricing a property, with 56% stating lenders should reflect EPC ratings in mortgage rates. If this happens, then existing and would-be homeowners could be affected if the property in question has an EPC rating below C. You can commission an EPC yourself or it may be commissioned on your behalf by an agent such as an estate agent. EPCs can only be produced by an accredited energy assessor. Energy assessors may be self employed or employees of service organisations such as estate agents, conveyancers or energy companies. An EPC is required when a building is constructed, rented or sold. A building will need an EPC if it has a roof and walls and has heating, air conditioning or mechanical ventilation. A garden shed, garage or old barn would not need an EPC if it doesn’t use energy to heat it up or cool it down. Improving your EPC score can save money and also reduce your Co2 emissions. Once the EPC has been completed and lodged it will be emailed in PDF format. The report uses a graph format, rating the property from A to G, A being the best and G being the worst performing properties. There is also a separate recommendation report, which identifies energy saving methods for each building. EPCs are needed whenever a property is built or marketed for sale or rent. Not having an EPC could lead to enforcement action and the issuing of a penalty charge notice. Each EPC is valid for 10 years and can be used multiple times during that period. An EPC can only be produced by an accredited energy assessor who will visit the property to carry out an assessment. Its always best to consult the experts when considering commercial epc these days. Dwelling Emissions Rate Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) can only be produced by energy assessors who are members of a government-approved accredited scheme for that type of building, and who have the appropriate qualifications or experience. Owners and landlords that plan to sell or rent out residential real estate are obliged to provide a domestic energy performance certificate for potential buyers or tenants. Investments in building energy efficiency hold promise to reduce energy demand (3) and thus curb emissions from fossil fuel combustion, including emissions of both greenhouse gases and non-greenhouse gas pollutants, the latter of which are hereafter referred to as “local” air pollutants. Landlords are required by law to ensure that their properties meet the required EPC rating. Currently, all commercial property must hold an EPC rating of band 'E' or better prior to any new leases or renewals being granted. From 1 April 2023 this will be extended to all rented commercial properties. This will include properties where the leases are mid term. When residential and commercial properties are being sold or rented, the owner has a legal requirement to provide an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). All work is completed personally with the emphasis being placed on providing a prompt and professional service. Appointments to survey properties are flexible and geared to the customer with early mornings, evenings and weekends all being available. Research around epc commercial property remains patchy at times. Bear in mind that EPCs don’t reflect the current condition of fabric or fittings. They’re also based on standard assumptions about occupancy and energy use, so they do not take account of actual energy use. You can order an EPC assessment from an accredited Domestic Energy Assessor. The assessor will visit your property to inspect the building, analyse heating and water systems and survey the sizes of rooms, floors, corridors, windows, doors, and fireplaces. The inspection is usually performed within an hour and is valid for 10 years. When you sell a property, you have a legal requirement to have an EPC for your home prior to selling it. This can be arranged either through your estate agent or directly with an EPC provider. In 2018, EPC requirements changed for landlords through the introduction of a minimum energy rating of ‘E’ or above for new tenancies. Now, this rule applies to all tenancies, not just new ones. In 2021, changes to the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards were also announced that will affect landlords and rentals from 2025. There is no set fee for an EPC and the price for a certificate to be issued can be as low as £50 or up to £120. As there is no variation to the certificate, there is no benefit from paying more for an EPC, so searching online will help you find a good deal. Going direct to an assessor is cheaper than through an estate agent – just make sure your assessor is accredited (using the register). Formulating opinions on matters such as mees can be a time consuming process. The Energy Efficiency Of A Property Optimising a building’s energy efficiency may not always be the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to cost-cutting measures. However, if more commercial building owners work towards reducing electricity consumption, they will realise that these savings can actually free up funding. This funding can be devoted to other business projects that can help in supporting the company’s goals. The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) set out a minimum level of energy efficiency for private rented property in England and Wales. A property will be deemed “sub-standard” for the purpose of MEES if it has an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of below E. An EPC is a survey that ranks your property on a scale of A to G – so there is no pass or fail, just better or worse. But if it’s low, tenants may be less likely to consider renting your property, due to the associated costs, particularly as rising energy prices are an ongoing issue. Energy Performance Certificates are rated from ‘A’ to ‘G’, with ‘A’ being the most energy efficient, and ‘G’ being the least. The certificate will show what the current rating is and which letter category it falls into. The best thing about the EPC is that it also shows the potential rating. Possessing a valid EPC is a legal requirement for all commercial properties. Once a booking to assess your commercial premises has been confirmed, you are free to market it for sale or rent. An EPC is required for property viewings, when written information is requested and when contracts are exchanged. You may be asking yourself how does a non domestic epc register fit into all of this? EPC is based on two factors: building fabric and building services. Building fabric includes the structural aspects such as floors, internal and external walls, glazing and roofs. Building fabric is a more difficult aspect to address when it comes to EPC improvement. Building services refers to heating and cooling, lighting, electrics and power provisions. Building services may be a much more accessible approach to improving EPC ratings. An EPC certificate will show the date the property was assessed in the top left corner. Make sure you check this date so you know how up-to-date the information is. Buildings are rated from 'A' to 'G'. 'A' means the building is very efficient and is coloured green on the chart. 'G' means it is inefficient and is coloured red on the chart. Properties with a higher rating are likely to have lower fuel bills. During a commercial EPC assessment the energy assessor will collect information about the building. This will include plans, dimensions of the building, its purpose, the number of floors, the amount and type of glazing (i.e. single or double glazing), the heating systems and the fuel used. This information will be fed into an approved software programme using a Government approved energy assessment method. The software produces the certificate and the recommendation report for the building. Storage heaters are cheaper to run, making use of low rate night-time electricity. However, the total amount of electricity used by storage heaters are higher than that of conventional panel heaters. So, while energy efficiency is improved due to low running costs, high energy use worsens the environmental impact. Usually, storage heaters are recommended in EPC suggestions. A well-thought-out strategy appertaining to mees regulations can offer leaps and bounds in improvements. Reduce Costs SAP EPCs are required specifically for newly built properties, properties that have been recently converted and properties that have increased their number of dwelling. A site visit isn’t required to get an SAP EPC; a qualified SAP energy assessor can complete this desktop-based task efficiently. EPC’s have to be carried out by a Domestic Energy Assessor who will need to be audited by their Accreditation Body to make sure standards are upheld, any not accredited can not carry out an EPC assessment. Required in Northern Ireland, England and Wales, a home energy efficiency rating will let owners/prospective buyers or tenants how costly the property is to run, and inform them of any money-saving methods that can be implemented. Check out further intel appertaining to Commercial Energy Performance Certificate Assessors on this UK Government Portal web page. 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