EPC Assessors

During the marketing process for a building, the energy performance indicator must be included in all marketing material and the EPC made available to interested parties. Failure to comply with this may result in the building owner incurring a penalty charge. It is therefore recommended to commission an EPC at the earliest opportunity. An EPC has been required for the construction, sale or letting of property, since 2008, but until recently it was just simply a tick box exercise as part of the transaction. However, now EPC and MEES have wider implications for commercial landlords and tenants than just energy efficiency, and not all EPCs are created equally (poor data in, low EPC out). If a home has an EPC Grade A energy rating, it’s doing everything it can to minimise energy usage. On average, homes across the UK usually have an energy rating of grade D - meaning they’re not as energy efficient as they could be. The EPC will also determine the cost of running the home as well as advisory home improvements to help improve your rating and move further up the scale. Landlords of privately rented properties in England and Wales must achieve at least an EPC rating of E before they can let, or continue to let, their properties. If your property’s rating is F or G, you need to act immediately to improve the property’s rating to E (or higher). Your EPC report will include a list of recommendations to improve the energy efficiency of your property. In 2025, the EPC requirement will be changing from E to C for all new tenancies. EPCs will not be the only driver for price, but they will give a good indication for the buyer or tenant of the size of their energy bills. Energy Performance Certificates can offer you a great service at a competitive price. A domestic EPC starts from £36, whilst a commercial EPC begins at £150. However, if you are a landlord with multiple properties, we can also offer you the latest discounts available. The energy performance certificate is valid for 10 years. However, we advise you to amend your certificate should any changes or modifications be made to your property within this time.

To check that an energy assessor is a member of an accreditation scheme, a search facility is available on the register website (www.epcregister.com). If a person does not have access to the internet they can ask the energy assessor for the name of the accreditation scheme of which they are a member and for their membership number. This information will help the person who has commissioned the EPC to confirm with the accreditation scheme that the energy assessor is accredited and fit and proper to practice as an energy assessor and to produce the EPC for the type of building being assessed. The cost of a Commercial EPC is governed by the type, size and complexity of a building, also the type of heating and ventilation. Providing scale floor plans of a building will significantly reduce the cost. Most modern homes have double glazing installed, but if you live in an older property, a few thousand pounds spent on new, energy efficient window units could improve your EPC rating and save you money on your bills. The Dynamic simulation model is a software tool that models energy inputs and outputs for different types of building over time. In certain situations, the simplified building energy model methodology may not be sophisticated enough to provide an accurateassessment of a building’s energy efficiency. In these cases government approved proprietary dynamic simulation Models may be used. Can a mees regulations solve the problems that are inherent in this situation?

To avoid a property becoming unrentable in the future, take advantage of any energy efficiency improvements you can make now as part of an on-going maintenance and renewal programme. Some of these improvement works could take a significant period of time to complete. Planning now can save you time and costs, especially if the building is currently occupied, as any energy improvements that need to be undertaken could cause disruptions to current tenants. From April 2023, new legislation will come into force where it will be an offence to let a property which does not achieve a minimum 'E' efficiency standard, we look at the possible impact for landlords in England and Wales. The Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012 require an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is procured when a property is sold, let or refurbished. An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is a document showing the assessed energy efficiency of a home. It uses an A - G ratings system which allows prospective owners and tenants to consider the affordability of a home in terms of the likely heating and lighting costs. An EPC survey must be carried out by an accredited domestic energy assessor who should visit your home. You can search for an accredited assessor using the EPC Register. EPCs for domestic properties are really straightforward documents that give an energy rating from G to A, with a numeric scale to give a more precise figure. The scale is pretty self-explanatory, with G being a very poor rating, and A being an excellent rating. The average rating across all UK dwellings is around 60 (D). Because of the legal requirement for EPCs, all commercial EPCs must be carried out by a trained and accredited non-domestic energy assessor. Helpfully, the Department for Communities and Local Government has arranged for a publicly accessible central register of such assessors, maintained by the Landmark Information Group. Its always best to consult the experts when considering non domestic epc register these days.

At any time, an EPC for a property MUST reflect the actual property it is being used for. Where a building has a dual purpose, perhaps a residential dwelling within an office, a separate EPC will be needed. In effect, anything classed as being designed or altered for separate use would require its own EPC. Where an inhabitant can separately control heating and ventilation and have separate access to the other occupants, an EPC for that particular purpose-built area would be needed. The value of a property for sale or rent will be directly linked to its energy efficiency. Commercial properties are likely to have their rates linked to energy efficiency. The Display Energy Certificate which tells the public how efficient the building is are also compulsory. The calculation for a commercial EPC follows a methodology called the Simplified Building Energy Model (SBEM). The assessor does not make any subjective judgements about the energy performance of the building, but rather collects data which is fed into the software that calculates the result. The resulting commercial EPC is accompanied by a recommendation report that makes suggestions as to how the buildings rating can be improved. When you market your building for sale or rent, your agent will need the EPC as s/he is legally required to include the energy performance indicator from the certificate on any commercial media for that property. This could include brochures, newspaper advertisements and property websites. A simple for sale or for let board or sign would not require the energy performance indicator to be included. 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. A well-thought-out strategy appertaining to mees can offer leaps and bounds in improvements.

Energy efficient building design and appliances all help to limit these things, and by obtaining a green certificate, you are making it clear you are committed to the limitation and elimination of your greenhouse gas contribution, giving you a more favorable appearance in the eyes and mind of a more green-conscious era. An EPC for a non-domestic property will show the energy performance of the building, and its grade between A+ to G (A+ being the most efficient). Properties are assessed on the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) likely to be emitted, from under 0 (which is net-zero) to over 150 (the least efficient). Properties are scored on this amount. The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) scheme has been well established on the UK property landscape for some time now. Since August 2007 for properties sold, and since October 2008 for properties rented, all dwellings must come with an EPC indicating its energy efficiency level. Once issued, your EPC is valid for 10 years, and stored on the national EPC register. That lets any potential buyers/renters do quick checks on properties they’re interested in. Clearly, the better your rating, the more attractive your home. A Commercial Premises utilises significant amounts of energy during the working day due to powering heating systems, mechanical ventilation and cooling. A Commercial Property with the best ratings is more attractive to potential tenants and buyers as they have lower running costs and are more environmentally friendly. A service such as a commercial epc is an invaluable asset in the heady world of business.

A Commercial EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) is required for every commercial building when it is constructed, sold or let. The EPC Certificate gives information about the energy efficiency of the building to owners, prospective buyers and tenants. Some buildings will be exempt from needing an EPC Certificate. An Energy Performance Certificate will provide recommendations to help you improve energy efficiency and thus reduce your energy consumption. By successfully implementing the recommendations detailed in the EPC, you will not only improve your property's Energy Efficiency Rating, but will guarantee savings in associated running costs. Currently the legislation states that the Landlord/Owner of the property is responsible for ensuring that the property has a Commercial EPC, and it is the Owner/Landlord who is liable for any the fine. However, Tranding Standards and the CLG (the Government) are currently looking into changing the legislation which will make Compliance more stringent. Since 9th January 2013, all advertisements for selling or renting property must clearly show energy rating of the building. If this is not complied with, it can lead to fines upto £200 While currently acceptable, an E rating means there is room for improvement. And, with the UK government pushing ahead to meet net-zero targets by 2050, it’s looking increasingly likely that all UK homes will need to have an EPC rating of C or above in the not too distant future. Wondering how to to improve your EPC rating? There are many benefits to improving an EPC E rating. Not only will you be helping to lower your home’s carbon emissions but, the more energy efficient your home is, the warmer and more comfortable it is likely to be, too. Professional assistance in relation to epc commercial property can make or break a commercial building project.

Energy performance certificates are rating done on the energy condition of the house and it is just like the ratings that is done on fridges, cooker or washing machines. These certificates come with two ratings. There is the carbon dioxide emission rating of your house that gauges the impact of the house to the environment, and there is the energy rating that measures how the whole house is energy efficient. An EPC is the industry standard in building and is defined clearly by legislation. All new build properties need an EPC in their pack for potential buyers. They are also required if a property is changing its purpose, such as a commercial property becoming domestic, as well as any residential property built from 6th April 2008. With new build properties, the EPC’s can only be conducted by On Construction Domestic Energy Assessors (OCDEA’s). This is part of an accredited Government approved scheme. Most homes in the Private Rented Sector rank poorly in terms of energy efficiency. More than 6% of households in this sector are F and G rated. Residing in these properties can lead to increased discomfort, ill health, and high energy bills for tenants. Tenants living in F and G-rated properties also tend to suffer from cold-related illnesses. The NHS incurs £35m annually in healthcare costs due to these ailments. Check out extra facts appertaining to Non-Domestic Energy Performance Certificate Assessors in this UK Government Publications entry.