Commercial Energy Performance Certificates (EPC)

Commercial Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) are energy surveys that determine how energy efficient a building or commercial premises is.

If you are selling, renting or building commercial property, you need a Commercial EPC. If a building is split into parts 'designed or altered to be used as separate accommodation' the parts may each require their own EPC. The sale and let of commercial buildings can be complex with multiple tenancies and uses.

10 years From October 2008, owners of all commercial buildings also have to provide an EPC when they buy, sell or let commercial premises these are also valid for 10 years. A Display Energy Certificate is valid for 12 months. The accompanying Advisory Report is valid for seven years.

As a general rule, an EPC is required every time a home is put up for sale or for rent. The requirement for an EPC has been the law since 2008 (2009 in Scotland), meaning that if your home has been let or sold since then it should have one. They remain valid for 10 years.

Penalties for not having an EPC. The penalty for failing to make an EPC available to any prospective buyer or tenant when selling or letting non-dwellings is fixed, in most cases, at 12.5 per cent of the rateable value of the building, with a default penalty of £750 where the formula cannot be applied.

It is against the law to advertise a property for rent without an EPC. Trading Standards will advise the landlord or letting agents that an EPC needs to be produced for the property in question and if they do not comply they can be fined.

To be valid, an EPC must be no more than 10 years old and be the most recent EPC for the property.

Top 10 tips for improving your commercial EPC rating:

1. Ensure your lighting is energy efficient
2. Use efficient heating
3. Install a hot water heater
4. Insulate your walls
5. Insulate your roof
6. Lighting Controls
7. Heating controls
8. Get some renewables for your business
9. Provide documentation. This is absolutely key to get the best rating
10. Liaise with your assessor to create a predictive EPC prior to carrying out your refurbishment work.

It is the responsibility of a Vendor to provide an EPC for the sale of a property. It is the responsibility of a Landlord to provide an EPC for a rental property. In cases of properties under construction, the responsibility lies with the person or company responsible for having the construction works carried out.