Energy Efficiency With A Commercial EPC

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) evaluates a building's energy efficiency and gives it an energy rating an A to G scale, with A being the most efficient. It includes a Recommendation Report with tips for enhancing the building's efficiency and carbon emission levels.

Under the Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations (EPBR), producing an EPC is mandatory for commercial energy assessors when buildings are constructed, sold, or let after 2008 in the UK.

Starting April 2023, private rental property landlords must ensure their properties have an EPC rating of E or above, as per Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) regulations. This must then be provided to the prospective buyer or tenant.

Who requires an EPC? Owners looking to sell or lease their commercial properties must secure a valid EPC before marketing, to provide energy performance information to potential buyers or tenants. This requirement also applies when a temporary building is newly built or undergoes changes affecting its use for separate occupancy.

Unlike Display Energy Certificates (DECs), which are annually renewed, an EPC is valid for 10 years, assuming no significant renovations are made.

As of April 2018, MEES regulations have prohibited renting out commercial buildings with an EPC rating lower than E, extending to include all existing tenants and leases by April 2023.

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) and Proposed Updates to EPC Requirements

The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) are regulations that impact landlords of privately rented properties, stipulating that these properties must achieve an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of at least E before new tenancies can be initiated with either new or existing tenants.

Starting from April 1, 2023, this requirement will extend to cover all privately rented properties in England and Wales, including those without any recent changes in tenancy for non-domestic buildings like an industrial site workshop or a non-residential agricultural building.

Currently, there's an ongoing consultation to potentially raise the minimum EPC requirement to a B rating by 2030 for all buildings, with an earlier target of 2025 for new constructions. However, these proposed changes have not been enacted into law as of yet.

Our team includes commercial energy assessors qualified at levels 3, 4, and 5, ensuring comprehensive and skilled assessment services for any detached building with a total space above the regulatory threshold.