Commercial or Non-Domestic Energy Performance Certificates From
£150.00 + vat
TEL: 0800 756 6831
For a quotation please click here or read on for further information.
WHAT IS AN ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATE?
The EPC is broadly similar in appearance to the energy labels now provided with vehicles,household appliances and Domestic EPC's Its purpose is to indicate how energy efficient the subject building or 'part of' actually is. The certificate will provide an energy rating of the building from A to G, where A is very efficient and G is the least efficient.
The better the rating, the more energy efficient the building will be and thus, the lower the fuel bills are likely to be. The energy performance of the building is shown as a Carbon Dioxide (CO2) based index. Each energy rating is based on the characteristics of the building construction and the services that condition the building such as heating, lighting and where applicable, ventilation be it mechanical or natural. This type of rating is known as an asset rating.
Asset ratings reflect considerations including the age and condition of the building. It will be accompanied by a recommendation report providing recommendations on how to use the building more effectively. It will also include cost effective improvements to the building and other more expensive improvements which could enhance the building’s energy performance and hence it's appeal to potential buyers or tenants.
WHAT DOES A NON-DOMESTIC EPC CONTAIN?
In addition to the asset ratings, EPCs must convey several other key pieces of information:
• reference information – this includes the unique 10 digit certificate
reference number and the date of issue of the certificate.
• energy assessor details – the Energy Assessor’s name,
accreditation number, employer’s name or trading name and
accreditation scheme.
• information on how to complain or how to confirm that the
certificate is genuine – the certificate will provide information on
how to register a complaint about an unsatisfactory EPC and how
to check the certificate is authentic.
The certificate will be accompanied by a report showing cost-effective recommendations on how to improve the energy ratings and for each improvement there will be indicative paybacks listed.
WHEN MUST AN ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATE BE PRODUCED?
From the 1st of December 2008 properties for sale and from the 4th of January 2009 properties for rent require an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) when constructed, sold or let
HOW DO I KNOW IF THE SUBJECT BUILDING REQUIRES A NON-DOMESTIC EPC?
For a building to fall within the requirement for an Non-Domestic EPC it must:
• have a roof and walls
• use energy to condition the indoor climate.
Services that are considered to condition the indoor climate are the following fixed services: heating, mechanical ventilation or air-conditioning. Although the provision of hot water is a fixed building service, it does not “condition the indoor environment” and would not therefore be a trigger for an EPC. The same argument applies to electric lighting.
WHAT IF ONLY PART OF A BUILDING IS CONCERNED?
A building can be either:
• the whole of a building for example a building comprising several
floors of office suites
• part of a building, where the part is designed or altered to be used
separately from the remainder of the building. For example a cafe
or rester aunt occupying one floor of the whole building above.
In general terms the EPC provided or made available should reflect the accommodation being sold or let. If you are in any doubt please seek professional advice as the possible scenarios for requirement to be fulfilled are many and can be complex.
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING THE ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATE?
ON CONSTRUCTION
On construction or modification of a non-dwelling the responsibility for providing an EPC falls to the person carrying out the construction. They must provide the EPC together with the recommendation report to the building owner and notify Building Control that this has been done when the building being constructed is physically complete. Building Control will not issue a certificate of completion until they are satisfied this has been done.
WHEN SELLING
As soon as a building is in the process of being offered for sale, it is the responsibility of the seller to make available an EPC to prospective buyers free of charge.
WHEN RENTING
As soon as a building is in the process of being offered to let, it is the responsibility of the prospective landlord to make available an EPC to prospective tenants.
The seller or landlord is responsible for ensuring there is an EPC for the building, or part of the building, being sold or let, even if an agent or another service organisation is acting on their behalf or providing an EPC. The seller or landlord should therefore ensure any agents acting on their behalf are complying with the Regulations.
For those considering letting or sub-letting a building, it is recommended that the availability of an EPC is ensured at an early stage to be ready for any future transaction.
REMAINING OCCASIONS - NOT SALE OR RENT
Not all transactions where there is a requirement for an EPC to be provided will be SALE or LET. Given that one purpose of providing an EPC is to enable potential buyers or tenants to consider the energy performance of a building as part of their investment other situations must be given consideration. These may include:
• lease renewals or extensions
• compulsory purchase orders
• sales of shares in a company where buildings remain in company
ownership
• lease surrenders.
BUILDINGS THAT ARE EXEMPT
EPCs are not required on construction, sale or rent for:
• places of worship
• temporary buildings with a planned time of use of less than two
years
• stand-alone buildings with a total useful fl or area of less than 50m2
that are not dwellings (see glossary of terms for a defi nition of
stand-alone)
• industrial sites, workshops and non-residential agricultural
buildings with low energy demand.
EPCs are not required on sale or rent for buildings due to be demolished. The seller or landlord should be able to demonstrate that:
• the building is to be sold or let with vacant possession
• the building is suitable for demolition and the resulting site is
suitable for redevelopment
• they believe, on reasonable grounds, that a prospective buyer or
tenant intends to demolish the building (eg on evidence of an
application for planning permission).
Tel: 0800 756 6831
Energy Assessor Scotland is part of the Energy
Assessor (Scotland) Ltd Group. This website and all intellectual
information contained within are protected under © Copyright 2009.
Energy Assessor Scotland. Reproduction of any material by a 3rd party
may result in prosecution.
VAT No. 975 5936 58 Company No. SC 350123 Reg Office; 18 Queens Terrace Ayr KA7 1DX
