Hand picking Non-Domestic Energy Performance Certificate Contractors can be a quandary, notably when you have no conception where to start. Potentially this opinion piece can be of value.

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). A domestic EPC will last for 10 years – the same as a commercial EPC. Unless you make significant changes to your property, you will not need another one, and likewise, if you have had an assessment done in the last 10 years and haven’t made any changes to your home, you don’t need a new one. 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. A property can be legal to market as soon as an EPC is booked so there is no need to worry about having to wait for the assessment to be completed and the certificate in your hands. As long as you have proof of booking you are set to go to market instantly. DEAs are domestic energy assessors who carry out this assessment and produce the certificate. These DEAs are trained in this task and only accredited DEAs are allowed to produce the EPC document. They are members of a government-approved accreditation scheme. In fact, the demand for assessors has led to several jobs being created in the energy assessment field for this occupation. It is important to search for accredited assessors, and always ask for their ID cards when they visit a property. For potential buyers, an EPC shows them how much they may spend on energy bills, how much energy waste the property potentially has and whether the rating can be improved. Each EPC gives a property a rating from A to G; A is the most efficient rating and G the least efficient and would be more common in older properties.



When a building is constructed, rented or sold, it is required to have a valid EPC. The EPC provides the new owner or resident with information on the building's energy efficiency, as well as recommendations on how to improve the efficiency of its energy usage. You’re likely already familiar with those colour-coded energy labels we see nowadays on electrical appliances like fridges and washing machines. As you probably know, they give you a good idea of how efficient your appliance is. An Energy Performance Certificate (or EPC) does exactly the same thing for your property. The Energy Act 2011 contains provisions that placed a duty on the Secretary of State to bring in regulations (now known as the minimum energy efficiency standard regulations, or “MEES” regulations) to improve the energy efficiency of buildings in the domestic and non-domestic private rented sector in England and Wales. When it comes to booking an EPC, it's important to consider a few factors. These include pricing, service quality, and the provider's overall capabilities. Additionally, it's essential to compare providers side-by-side to find the best fit for your business. If you have any questions about your booking or any problems arise, be sure to contact the EPC provider. They should be able to help resolve the issue quickly and efficiently. In the end, ensuring that you get the most out of your EPC engagement is essential for a successful business. Conducting viability appraisals with respect to mees regulations is useful from the outset of any project.

Becoming Compliant

If you’re looking into buying a property, an EPC is something important that you need to consider. This is because it will give you an indication of how much the property will cost to heat and how energy efficient the property currently is. Also, it will let you know if you will have to look into making energy efficiency improvements when you buy the property or whether these have already been made. The value of the house is higher if the EPC rating is higher as it means that the property is more energy efficient. MEES regulations set a minimum energy efficiency level for domestic, private rented properties – if your property’s EPC rating is E or above, you’re compliant with the regulations and can breathe a sigh of relief – at least for now. The Energy Performance Certificate or EPC is a requirement before a commercial property can be put on the market. This document summarizes the survey of a qualified energy assessor which determines how energy efficient the property is. Commercial EPCs with good ratings generally have a positive impact on the market value and perception of the property. The benefit of energy efficiency improvements can be seen in utility bills which are lower than they otherwise would be for millions of households. What’s more, if you’re considering selling your home, a low EPC rating is likely to equal a low property value and reduce buyers’ interest in your home. If you are offering any accommodation for sale or let (this includes sub-letting) you will need to make an EPC available that reflects the energy performance of the accommodation on offer. An EPC should be provided to a prospective buyer or tenant at the earliest opportunity and no later than when a viewing is conducted or when written information is provided about the building or in any event before entering into a contract to sell or let. You may be asking yourself how does a commercial epc fit into all of this?

If you’re looking to buy a property, an EPC will often be attached to the listing as one of the images. You can see that this is a colourful image with a range of colours and letters, from A-G. Make sure that the EPC attached to the property listing is up to date – they only last for 10 years. You can gauge the energy efficiency of the property through the colour or grading on an EPC. Some properties may require small changes like the replacement of light bulbs for more efficient ones. There are times that bigger changes are required, like the installation of solar panels. If you’re a landlord and the property is below an E rating, then you have to make improvements for your tenants. The government’s plans to ensure homes are upgraded beyond a C rating automatically makes those above this level more appealing to would-be buyers as they won’t be beholden to potentially costly improvements. Plus, people are increasingly aware of the money-saving benefits of living in an energy efficient home. Research from moneysupermarket.com shows that the average English home could be worth as much as 14% more if it was upgraded to an A rating. With a few exceptions, a valid EPC is a legal requirement for a new building or when a building is sold or rented on a new lease to a new tenant. As soon as you know you are going to be selling or renting a property you should commission an EPC and it should be available for prospective buyers or tenants to view. As well as getting a fine of up to £5,000, not having an EPC could result in the expensive delay of a sale or rental. If a Landlord has made all relevant energy efficiency improvements that have been suggested by the inspector but the rating is still below ‘E’, the Landlord may still be able to grant a lease. This also applies where suggested energy efficiency improvements cannot be implemented, particularly with listed buildings where these improvements can be detrimental to the character and status of the building. A service such as a non domestic epc register is an invaluable asset in the heady world of business.

Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) Scheme

Holding an EPC is a legal requirement under the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). Without it your building cannot be signed off, sold or let. You can also be fined up to £5,000. For businesses there are 3 levels of non-domestic Energy Performance Certificate which are Level 3, Level 4 and Level 5 EPCs. The difference between them is to do with the complexity of the building and the fixed services with Level 5 being the most complex and Level 3 the least complex. Since EPCs have become a legal requirement before the sale or renting of buildings can be done, it is important that you know how to get one for your property. To get an Energy Performance Certificate, you will need to hire a professional energy assessor who will inspect the building and conduct an energy assessment of the property. An accredited energy assessor will conduct a visual inspection of your property. They will take a measured survey, photographs, and calculate the EPC rating by looking at any potential for heat or energy loss, checking for insulation throughout the property, looking at how efficient the heating system and water is and ventilation. Your property is then graded according to a points system. The UK was the first major economy in the world to legislate for Net Zero emissions by 2050. This will involve a radical shift in the way energy is used. Policies such as the £2 billion Green Homes Grant launched in September 2020 aim to improve the energy performance of homes and decarbonise the heating source, enabling warmer homes. Landlords need to ensure that any rental property, whether commercial or residential, must have a minimum EPC Certificate rating of E. A Commercial EPC Certificate must be produced by a qualified Non-Domestic Energy Assessor (NDEA). Research around epc commercial property remains patchy at times.

Generally, properties built after 2012 have an average EPC rating of B, according to the Office of National Statistics. Those built since 1983 score an average of C, but those built before 1900 have an average rating of E. And houses tend to have lower EPC scores than flats. Commercial EPCs look at the size and complexity of the building and understand the buildings size usage in terms of activity. As well as how the building is constructed, any HVAC present and insulation levels. If you have any documentation pertaining to any of these elements it would be very helpful for calculating and producing an accurate Energy Efficiency Rating for your building. SECR is a new mandatory energy and carbon reporting scheme for larger companies that came into effect in April 2019. The UK government wants to reduce duplication in carbon reporting, to ease the burden on business. The Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) has been abolished as part of these reforms. SECR – as its name suggests – has been introduced as a more streamlined reporting framework. April 2027 will be a milestone marker. For those properties rated in Bands D or E, landlords will be obliged to obtain a new EPC to demonstrate that the property has improved to Band C or better. At the very least, the EPC will need to show that the property has achieved its best possible ranking, with a reasonable view taken on the cost of implementation. In 2002 the EU introduced regulations designed to improve the energy efficiency of buildings which contained a requirement to introduced 'Energy Performance Certificates' (EPCs) designed to show information about the energy efficiency of a building to which it relates. The EU regulations were implemented in England and Wales via a series of statutory instruments, ultimately leading to the current, EPC Regulations. A solid understanding of mees makes any related process simple and hassle free.

Energy Performance Certificates And Compliance

Properly insulating a house can be an affordable and effective way to bring its EPC rating out of the danger zone. It also shouldn't cause too much upheaval. If you can achieve at least 270mm thick insulation in the loft space, you will significantly reduce the amount of heat lost through the roof. Energy Performance Certificates are required for all commercial buildings whenever built, rented or sold. Like residential EPCs they are intended to inform potential buyers or tenants about the energy performance of a building, so they can consider energy efficiency as part of their investment or business decision to buy or occupy that building. You will require professional advice if you are looking into a considerable improvement of your commercial EPC rating or commissioning an initial EPC for your commercial premises. Unlike a domestic EPC, obtaining of a commercial EPC can be a lengthy process and could take several weeks. One can uncover more facts regarding Non-Domestic Energy Performance Certificate Contractors in this UK Government Portal article.

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