Since the 4th January 2009 all UK residential and commercial property require an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) when constructed or offered for sale or rent, unless they meet certain exception criteria - see more about this further down the page. It is mandatory that sellers and landlords supply an EPC when the property is initially marketed.
An EPC calculates the energy performance of a building using an A to G rating system, similar to those provided with a fridge or washing machine. Included with the EPC will be a recommendation report suggesting improvements that can be made to increase the efficiency of the property and better the rating. A commercial EPC lasts for ten years.
For a building to fall within the requirement for an EPC it must have:
1. A roof and walls
2. Use energy to condition the indoor climate (ie. Have heating, air conditioning or mechanical ventilation). If a building has no conditioning system, but there is intention that there will be some installed, an EPC is still required.
An EPC can be required either for the whole building or for part of a building that is designed or altered to be used separately.
Selling or letting a building as a whole
You can prepare and EPC for the whole building, even if that building has parts designed or altered to be used separately and with separate heating systems.
Selling or letting part of a building, where the building has a common heating system
If a building has a common heating system, then the seller or landlord needs an EPC for the whole building or just for the part being sold or let.
Selling or letting part of a building, where the building has separate heating systems
An EPC is needed for each part of a building that is being offered separately for sale or let.
Communal areas
When a building containing common areas is sold or let, the communal areas may either be included in the EPC for the whole building or assessed separately to provide an EPC just for the communal areas.
Situations where an EPC is not required:
- Places of worship
- Temporary buildings with a planned use time of less than 2 years
- Stand alone buildings of less than 50m²
- Industrial sites, workshops, and non residential agricultural buildings with low energy demand.
- Buildings that can prove they are to be demolished
Failure to provide an EPC
This can result in a fine based on the rateable value of the building up to a maximum of £5000. Enforcement is carried out by Trading Standards.
The sale and let of commercial buildings can be complex and we are happy to give you free helpful advice on all aspects of Energy Performance Certificates.
For further information and guidence on EPCs visit the Communities and Local Government website: www.communities.gov.uk
To retrieve lodged non-domestic Energy Performance Certificates and Reports visit: www.ndepcregister.com
