Commercial EPCs - now a legal requirement!
Whenever a business or commercial premises is sold, rented out or constructed it now requires a Commercial EPC and Recommendations Report to be available to show to any prospective purchaser. Fines for failure to comply with this law are usually 12.5% of the rateable value up to a maximum of £5000 per offence!
Who is responsible for producing an EPC and when should it be done?
The landlord (for new leases) the seller ( for freehold sales or lease assignments ) or in the case of new-build the party who constructed the building are resposible for producing an EPC , regardless of whether an agent acts on their behalf.
The EPC should be given to the prospective tenant or buyer at the earliest opportunity, and no later than when a viewing is in progress. Each time a premises is offered to a propsective buyer without an EPC it is counted as a separate 'offence' so the potential fines could run into £thousands!
For new build property ( or significant modifications to existing buildings) , the party constructing the building must provide an EPC to the owner before Building Control will produce a Certificate of Completion.
How do you obtain an EPC?
As soon as you decide to offer your premises or business for sale or rent, you should contact an Accredited Non Domestic Energy Assessor. Christchruch Energy are experienced Energy Assessors based on the south coast, but with a national reach.
What does an assessment entail?
Information is collected about the buildign from a variety of sources, usually the main one being a comprehensive site survey. information gatehred is then processed and fed inot a computer programme which generates the necesdsary EPC and Recommendations Report. A good Assessor will also offer a full explanation of the findings in order to fully inform the seller and the prospective buyer of what measures might be considered to improve energy performance. This is a standard part of our service.
How long is the EPC valid for?
EPCs for non dwellings are valid for 10 years, although if major improvements are made it might be worth commissioning a new inspection if teh building is changing hands befroe the 10 years is up.
How long does it take?
Every building is different, but we will give an indication of the likely survey time when we offer a quote. The data processing can take several days, but again a timescale will be agreed befroe we start work.
What if you only own or rent part of a building?
The usual rule is that the EPC follows the part of the builidng being sold or rented. After all that is what your prospective buyer will be interested in. We can advise on the specific requirements as there are cases where a 'whole building' EPC will suffice.
What if there is a residential area such as a flat above a shop?
If the residential portion is separate from the commercial parts, having its' own entrance from street level without traversing the commercial part, AND has its own electricity and /or gas meters, it is appropriate to issue a domestic EPC for teh residential part and a Commercial EPC for the rest. Again we offer free advice on teh best way to assess a given property on request.
Are there any exemptions?
Certain properties are exempt from the requirement. Places of worship, buildigns with a planned use of two years or less, detached premises of less than 50m2 and buuildigns due to be demolished are all exepmt form the legislation. Also buildings which do NOT require the indoor climate to be conditioned ( heated or cooled) such as storage only warehouses are also exempt. We can advise on potential exemptions, or you can contact your local Trading Standards office for further clarification. ( See low energy buildings defined page)
If a building has no heating or air conditioning plant installed, but the planning consent indicates a 'need for heat' , an EPC must still be produced. Examples might be small shops such as newsagents with no fixed heating systems, or shell and core premises yet to be fitted out.
What can we do to help?
Firstly we are sympathetic to the additional financial burden this legislation places on businesses at the time of sale or transfer, and endeavour to keep fees as low as possible without compromising quality of service. We also offer a range of payment options which can be tailored to suit individual circumstances.