Commercial & Residential Energy Performance Certificates (EPC)
A Non-Domestic Energy Performance Certificate (Commercial EPC) or a Residential Energy Performance Certificate (Residential EPC) is required before marketing a property. The EPC gives an estimate of the building's energy usage and its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and grades the building from A to G, with A being the most energy efficient and G the least efficient. A valid EPC must be made available to any prospective purchaser or tenant.
The EPC is accompanied by a Recommendations Report which details various energy and building efficiency improvements that if implemented could reduce energy usage, save money and improve the EPC rating of the property.
Energy Performance Certificates are valid for 10 years and failure to have a valid EPC can render your organisation liable to a fixed penalty fine of up to £5,000. The exchange of contracts or finalising of lease agreements may also be delayed if a valid EPC is not available.
A Commercial or Domestic EPC must be provided by a suitably accredited Energy assessor, all RW Air Energy assessors are fully accredited, who will visit and survey the building before preparing a Recommendations Report and certificate.
In 2016, The Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property)(England and Wales) Regulations 2015 established the new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) in the residential and commercial private rented sector.
This has been introduced by government to improve the quality of private rented buildings and reduce the overall CO2 emissions in accordance with the UKs targets for decarbonisation. From 1st April 2018, it is now deemed unlawful to let properties with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating below an 'E' rating.
Landlords and their agents should act by commissioning an up-to-date Energy Performance Certificate which will identify the current rating (which may have changed over time), and recommend opportunities for improvement.
