CONTACT US

London & Surroundings 07813 064013

North & North West 07813 064013

South East & West 07714 769 360

 

DID YOU KNOW?

6th April 2008 - Buildings with total floor area greater than 10,000 sqm will require an EPC.

1st July 2008 - Buildings with total floor area greater than 2,500 sqm will require an EPC.

1st October 2008 - All remaining commercial buildings will require and EPC, on sale, rental or in process of construction.

 

Useful Links

For further details you can visit CLG Website. (Communities and Local Government guidance documents) which can be found via our links page

 

 

Commercial Energy Performance Certificates

From 4 April 2009 all non-dwellings require an EPC when constructed, sold or rented. The Certificate includes an energy rating, as well as advice on how to make cost effective improvements to the building to make it more energy efficient.

Not all buildings need an EPC, these are the exceptions :

  • Places of worship
  • Temporary buildings in use for less than two years, e.g. site offices
  • Low energy demand buildings such as agricultural buildings, e.g. barns
  • Stand alone buildings less than 50m², e.g. sheds and summer houses
  • Lease Renewals & Extensions

Why is an EPC required?

The Government introduced The Energy Performance of Buildings ( England and Wales) Regulations 2007 in line with EU protocol. The legislation aims to promote improvement of energy performance of buildings and is recognised as contributing to the lowering of carbon dioxide emissions in line with the Kyoto Agreement.

The Details

Energy Performance Certificates are valid for 10 years and must be available prior to any marketing of a property. For commercial lettings, an EPC is only required for a newly leased property. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that an Energy Performance Certificate is made available.

On an assignment or the underletting of part of a building, it may be possible to arrange for the party who is assigning, or granting the underlease to request that the landlord provide an EPC for the whole building. Alternatively, the seller or the tenant granting the underlease can arrange for an EPC for just the part of the building being rented. Ultimately, the cost must be borne by the party who is selling or granting a lease.

The EPC certificate will be accompanied by an advisory report on cost effective improvements to make the building more energy efficient, which is valid for 7 years.

What are the Penalties for not having a valid EPC?

Trading Standards will enforce certification of existing buildings. Under the Regulations relating to EPCs, there is a civil liability penalty for not providing an EPC.

The penalty comprises a fine of 12.5% of the rateable value of the property (subject to a minimum of £500 and a maximum of £5,000) which can be a re-occurring cost, plus the additional enforcement of having an EPC commissioned which will be at least £200.

Contact our Specialists

For further information, please call Ross McCarthy on 07714 769360 or Sarah Bolton on 07813 064013

Getting an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) quote

For an accurate quote you will need to be able to provide us with the following information:

  • Property Address
  • Property Use (e.g. Shop, Warehouse, Office, Mixed, Garden Centre etc.)
  • Date Built
  • Approximate size (sq. m)
  • Air Conditioning present? (Yes/No)
  • Are scaled drawings available? (Yes/No)
  • Your name and contact telephone number

If drawings, plans, photographs etc are available, would we be able to have copies of these?

It all sounds so complicated. Do not panic!