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For organisations involved in Fully Accredited Commercial Energy Assessors to be wholly green, they must know their full impact on the world, but change can bring endurance as well as savings. What is not so well known is that an EPC can be of considerable worth outside of regulatory requirements, and can offer valuable guidance on where improvements can be made both on emissions and on costs. For landlords planning to rent out their properties, it is well worth getting an EPC done as early as possible due to the new legislation that came into force in April 2018. This means that the properties they rent out have to have a minimum EPC rating of E or higher. This is called the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES). On 1 April 2018, MEES introduced the requirement for residential landlords to ensure any new tenancies had an Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) with a minimum rating of an E. Since 1 April 2020 the legislation was extended to cover all existing relevant residential tenancies. 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. If you want to challenge your EPC rating or your certificate contains an error you should contact the energy assessor who carried out the report first. You’ll find their details on the energy performance certificate and you can ask them to re-assess your home based on your concerns. For example if you think they recorded the wrong appliances on your EPC or that they missed off an important factor. But if you’re not happy with the response you can appeal to the accreditation scheme the assessor is licensed by. You should also find the details on your certificate. A proactive approach to EPC compliance means having them in advance of the trigger points at which they would be needed. For example, if a landlord has a block with a high turnover of tenants, then producing EPCs in advance of the requirement will mean that these are on hand to give to new tenants as they are offered accommodation and will reduce any impact on void times. It should be borne in mind however that a proactive approach typically requires surveys of tenanted properties and if any difficulties are encountered in gaining access, the need to make repeat visits could increase costs. Energy Performance Certificates were introduced in 2007 and these reports are valid for 10 years. It’s a legal requirement to have one before a property can be rented, sold or constructed. Commercial property can be improved in a number of ways, depending on the needs of the property. Exterior cladding, roofing, windows and doors, signage, and landscaping are just a few of the options. To get the best results, it's important to research different EPC providers and make sure they are qualified to carry out the work you require. An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) shows information about a property’s energy usage and typical energy costs. It provides ratings from A to G showing the current and potential energy ratings for the property as well as recommendations on improving its energy efficiency. You can also find the environmental impact of a property which is measured in terms of carbon dioxide emissions. If you do not make an EPC available to a prospective buyer or tenant when selling or letting non-dwellings, the penalty is fixed, in most cases, at 12.5 per cent of the rateable value of the building. A formula is used as the costs of producing an EPC for business premises varies according to the size, complexity and use of the building. The range of penalties under this formula is set with a minimum of £500 and a maximum of £5,000. A solid understanding of mees makes any related process simple and hassle free. EPC Breakdown Not all buildings need an EPC. Firstly, only properties being listed for sale or for rent need an EPC. A house not currently on the market does not need an EPC. Secondly, there are some exceptions that apply, even to properties listed for sale or rent. These include places of worship, listed buildings, and some temporary buildings. You can check the full list on the Governments website. You may consult the record of all previous energy efficiency certificates issued for your property on the EPC Register. You can also find out the energy rating of similar properties in your area simply by entering the postcode. For landlords, since 2018 it has been a legal requirement that domestic properties meet the minimum energy efficiency standard of an EPC E rating before they can be rented out. This currently applies to new tenancies, but from April 2020 it will apply to existing ones too. Back in 1996, 39% of rental properties had an F or G rating, so the introduction of the EPC rating system contributed to a massive overall improvement. By 2016 the figure was 7%, and now we stand at 6.3%. Because of the urgent carbon emissions timeline, the government says this means there are up to 285,000 properties in need of urgent work. EPCs to be displayed in commercial premises larger than 500m² that are frequently visited by the public, and where one has previously been produced for the sale, construction or renting out of the building. Can a non domestic epc register solve the problems that are inherent in this situation? From 1st April 2018 any property let on a new tenancy or a fixed term renewal must meet the new minimum EPC rating of E or higher. As EPCs only last for 10 years and became compulsory in 2008, it is important to check that your EPC is still valid and the rating is E or higher. From 1st April 2020 it will not be possible to let any domestic property that has an EPC rating of F or G. Furthermore, if a landlord wants to back possession of a property let on an Assured Shorthold Tenancy it is legally necessary to have a valid EPC before serving notice on a tenant. Reducing energy consumption at home is one of the most important things we can do to help end ourcontribution to climate change and reach our net zero target. Net zero is when the amount of greenhouse gas emissions we put into the atmosphere and the amount we’re able to take out will add up to zero. There's just so much of a focus these days on the building fabric, but of course, it's not the building that uses energy, it's the people using the building. And everything we do takes place in or around a building. So understanding that human element is the key to being really sustainable to really deal with changing climate. The commercial property industry is always evolving – new regulations are being introduced all the time. One such new regulation is MEES, which is set to help increase the accuracy of property values and assess the impact of development on surrounding areas. As a commercial property owner or landlord, it's important to stay up to date with news updates and learn about all its features. This way, you can make informed decisions and manage your property accordingly. So, what are you waiting for? Learn all you can about MEES and get ready for some big changes in the commercial property industry. The energy efficiency ratings on an EPC go from A (very energy efficient) to G (not energy efficient). The Environmental impact ratings also range from A (very environmentally friendly - lower CO2 emissions) to G (not environmentally friendly - higher CO2 emissions). According research by Easy EPC, the most common EPC rating for a domestic property in the UK is D. You may be asking yourself how does a epc commercial property fit into all of this? How Do I Get A New Epc Certificate? The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) imposed the implementation of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) for most property, whether commercial or residential over 50 m², with only a few exceptions. If you are concerned about your carbon footprint, an EPC can help you to understand ways in which you can reduce your effect on the environment, such as changing to energy efficient light bulbs or adding loft insulation, with your landlord’s permission. Given the climate crisis there’s no time like the present to improve your home’s energy efficiency, and the best time to do home improvements is in the warm weather. Your existing EPC will give common improvement recommendations, such as insulation, double-glazing, low-energy lighting and solar panels, as well as the potential costs of undertaking these improvements, and the money you could subsequently save on your bills. An EPC assesssment visit itself involves gathering information about various aspects of the property. This includes the boiler, the insulation, the windows, the central heating system, any hot water tanks. The assessor will make a rudimentary floorplan and take pictures as they work, in order to provide the evidence necessary to lodge the certificate. Letting agents have a critical role in supporting landlords prepare for the regulatory changes. A lack of preparation could mean that 60 percent of privately rented properties drop below MEES and become ‘unrentable’, resulting in major losses for letting agents. A well-thought-out strategy appertaining to commercial epc can offer leaps and bounds in improvements. The legal responsibility to have an EPC assessment lies with the organisation that has placed the building on the market, such as the landlord, the company seeking an assignment, or subtenant. The marketing agent also has a legal responsibility to have EPCs in place for the buildings they are advertising. An EPC will provide an energy rating for a building which is based on the performance potential of the building itself (the fabric) and its services (such as heating, ventilation and lighting). The energy rating given on the certificate reflects the intrinsic energy performance standard of the building relative to a benchmark which can then be used to make comparisons with comparable properties. Under the Energy Performance of Buildings (EPB) regulations you need an EPC if you let a building which is ‘designed or modified to be used separately’. For domestic purposes that means a self-contained dwelling. You do not need an EPC if you let a room in a dwelling which is not a building part ‘designed or modified to be used separately’. There are some limited occasions where you may be exempt from providing an EPC. This includes when you are a live-in landlord and are renting out one of the rooms in your property. The other main exemption is listed buildings, which may not need an EPC as their protecting regulations limit owners to increasing insulation or installing double glazing. From April 2023, UK landlords will not be able to grant or renew a policy for a tenant if their commercial property has an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) rating of F or lower. Fines for continuing to let a property from April 2023 will amount to a minimum of £5,000, up to £150,000. Maximising potential for mees regulations isn't the same as meeting client requirements and expectations. Actions You Can Take If you're buying a new home, an EPC certificate could help you compare properties you might be looking at, so make sure you ask to see one. If you own a residential or commercial property in England or Wales and you plan to sell or rent it, you need an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). Potential tenants and buyers need it to check energy performance and give them a clue about the energy efficiency of their investment. An EPC provides a rating from A+ to G, rather like those seen on white goods for many years, based upon the estimated amount of carbon emitted from the building using a notional comparable building as a benchmark. This will vary considerably depending on such things as construction type, age, mechanical and electrical services within and even orientation or location. You can find more particulars regarding Fully Accredited Commercial Energy Assessors at this UK Government Website page. Related Articles: Supplementary Insight About Professionally Qualified Domestic Energy Assessors More Background Information On Commercial EPC Contractors Additional Findings With Regard To Commercial EPC Assessors Extra Insight About Commercial EPC Assessors Background Information On Commercial EPC Contractors Background Information About Non-Domestic EPC Contractors Supplementary Findings On Accredited Energy Assessors