Specifically, what is widespread in regards to Low Carbon Energy Assessors at this time?

The government is becoming more concerned about ‘rogue’ landlords who are not concerned with the quality of the property they house tenants in. As such, in an attempt to make being a landlord more professional, a number of different initiatives are being brought in. Ensuring that a property is energy efficient not only means that the property itself is being well looked after and is at a decent standard, but that tenants are not spending unnecessarily on high energy bills. Since 2013, listed buildings have been exempt from EPCs, provided they reach certain minimum standards for energy performance. Ironically, the best way to check whether your building meets these standards is to get an EPC. If your listed building already had an EPC before the exemption came into place, you will have to make sure it has an E rating before you can rent it out. This may require some changes. EPC stands for Energy Performance Certificate. Commercial or Non-Domestic EPCs were introduced by the European Union (EU) initiative (Directive 2002/91/EC – EPBD) to help improve energy efficiency across all the member states. A commercial EPC is mandatory for commercial properties when being sold or let. Ratings are often used by tenants or potential buyers to make energy comparisons between properties. The EPC will identify where there is the ability to improve the energy efficiency of the building. An EPC tells you how energy efficient your property is, just like the multi-coloured stickers you see on new domestic appliances tell you how energy efficient the appliance is. The ratings vary from "G", the most inefficient rating indicated with a red colour, and all the way up to "A", meaning very efficient and shown as dark green. When you sell, let or build a commercial property, it is a legal requirement to have a valid EPC. An EPC is valid for 10 years. When properties are let, there are minimum energy efficiency standards. These are expected to increase in the future. Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) can only be produced by energy assessors who are members of a government-approved accredited scheme for that type of building, and who have the appropriate qualifications or experience.



An EPC is an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) which is given to potential buyers or renters of a particular property. The EPC report covers the energy efficiency of heating and lighting and shows the estimated CO2 emissions. The penalty for failing to make an EPC available to any prospective buyer or tenant when selling or renting a non-domestic dwelling 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. The range of penalties under this formula are set with a minimum of £500 and capped at a maximum of £5,000! An EPC provides a useful indication of the potential for energy efficiency and carbon emissions. Inefficient homes paired with high fuel bills means more people falling into fuel poverty. Action is even more urgent as the number of households expected to be in fuel poverty this winter reaches nearly 12 million as a result of the energy price cap increase. Some top-down provisions have been made to stem the tide. Part of the Governments’ fuel poverty strategy, Sustainable Warmth, includes a grant scheme designed to get as many fuel poor homes as possible to a Band C. However, more action on the ground is needed. The energy performance of existing dwellings is determined using a government approved domestic energy model known as Reduced data Standard Assessment Procedure (RdSAP). This is a streamlined version of the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) into which data for new build dwellings is entered based on drawings and specifications. A solid understanding of mees regulations makes any related process simple and hassle free.

Remaining Compliant

Not all buildings need an EPC. Firstly, only properties being listed for sale or for rent need an EPC. A house not currently on the market does not need an EPC. Secondly, there are some exceptions that apply, even to properties listed for sale or rent. These include places of worship, listed buildings, and some temporary buildings. You can check the full list on the Governments website. An EPC gives a property an energy efficiency rating from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient) and is based on a complex calculation, which looks at a number of factors such as the age and type of building and its construction, insulation and heating systems. Making your home more energy efficient has a variety of benefits. It will not only help to reduce your carbon footprint, which is a crucial step in helping to tackle the climate emergency, but it could save you hundreds of pounds on your energy bills and help you to keep a warmer, happier, healthier home. Each home is different and there is no way of stating definitively what the costs and benefits of installing energy efficiency measures will be in advance of works being undertaken. It is, however, possible to show how moving homes from lower to higher energy efficiency performance could help to cut bills. There are a range of MEES exemptions which allow you to continue letting a property with an EPC rating of F or G. Most exemptions last for five years, but some are temporary and only last for six months. These exemptions include if your property still has an EPC rating below E after you’ve spent £3,500 on improvements (known as the ‘cost cap’), or you’ve unexpectedly become a landlord. Its always best to consult the experts when considering mees these days.

In 2020, the government consulted on plans to raise the minimum EPC rating to C for all private rented homes. They've suggested a phased implementation plan that would apply to new tenancies from 2025 and all tenancies from 2028, while also increasing the high cost exemption from £3,500 to £10,000. Once issued, an Energy Performance Certificate is valid for 10 years. In that time, you can use the EPC multiple times for the same property if you wish to rent out to different tenants. After 10 years, the EPC has expired and you will need to follow the process again, to get a newly valid Energy Performance Certificate. The EPC will show the energy efficiency rating on an A–G rating scale and it will also include recommendations on how to improve energy efficiency. Make sure you check out how the law is changing on this for buy-to-let landlords under government proposals. Areas examined in a commercial EPC assessment include the type of building the property is, the number of floors, composition, size and age of the building. In addition, our team will determine which heating, cooling and ventilation systems are installed and are operational in the building. The assessor will check if there are any energy efficiency devices already installed. New-build homes tend to have high EPC ratings, while older homes often have lower ratings of around D or E. The average for a home in the UK is currently an EPC rating D, but the government hopes to raise this to a C by 2025/26 and it will be essential for landlords to achieve this rating, or they could risk being fined. A team of Energy Assessors and Chartered Surveyors are uniquely placed to give advice on epc commercial property and provide a complete energy consultancy service.

Fully Accredited

Be sure to ask an EPC provider about their services and requirements. In order to stay on top of the project and ensure quality is maintained, it's important to communicate with the EPC provider regularly. Finally, always remember that success is always about taking care of your commercial property - make sure to partner with a provider that you can trust to take care of everything! If you have no idea where to start when it comes to reducing your energy efficiency, energy costs and how to make your home more green, an energy consultant could be the next step for you. Energy consultants are often brought in to developments to help companies and occupants identify where their energy efficiency needs improving and what next steps they need to take to make their energy consumption greener. Each rating on an EPC is based on the performance of the building and its services (such as heating and lighting), rather than the domestic appliances within it. The ratings will vary according to the age, location, size and condition of the building. If you are renting your property and the EPC returns a rating of F or below (G), the law says you must carry out the recommended works to a cost of up to £3,500 (inclusive of VAT). The government has pledged to increase the minimum EPC score to C for privately rented homes by 2030. Where a commercial building is frequently visited by the public and has a floor area of more than 500 square metres then it is a requirement that the EPC must be displayed in a prominent place, clearly visible to members of the public who visit the building. There is a penalty of £500 for failing to display the EPC. A service such as a non domestic epc register is an invaluable asset in the heady world of business.

Energy efficient homes are growing in popularity, with sellers highlighting the benefits of efficient upgrades in the face of rising energy prices. When the time comes to sell your house, you should inform your estate agent or solicitor of the energy efficient measures that are now a part of your home’s infrastructure. Details of upgrades such as insulation or draught-proofing will be passed on to future owners, along with their energy savings. In addition, these upgrades distinctly improve habitation comfort within the home and can be a potential selling point. The consultation proposes that letting agents and online property platforms should only be able to advertise and let properties compliant with the MEES Regulations. It is hoped that this will strengthen the existing enforcement regime and encourage greater compliance. Changes are also envisaged to the enforcement period for penalty charge notices. Commercial EPCs are accompanied by a recommendation report, which provides recommendations on how the energy performance of the building could be enhanced, together with an indication of the payback period. Essential information for business owners. The requirement for an EPC to be made available to a prospective buyer or tenant does not apply until construction or modification of the building (to have greater or fewer parts designed for separate occupation) has been completed. Getting an EPC is simple. All that is required is to find an assessor that us on the EPC register. The EPC register is a government database that includes all issued EPC’s and qualified assessors. Advising on matters such as commercial epc will provide benefits in the long run.

Current Requirements

To complete an EPC, an accredited Energy Assessor will visit your property and conduct a visual survey. The Energy Assessor will undertake a measured survey and take photographs, recording various aspects of the property including the windows, lights, heating and radiators to help calculate the properties EPC rating. An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is a document which provides a visual statement of your home’s energy efficiency. Much like the colourful stickers you will see on appliances, the EPC is designed to give a quick reference as to how much the house is likely to cost to run. Your property will be given an energy-efficiency grade between A and G, with A being the best - ie most energy-efficient - and G being the worst. New-build homes tend to have high EPC ratings, while older homes often have lower ratings of around D or E. The average EPC rating for a home in the UK is D. Check out further information about Low Carbon Energy Assessors on this UK Government Publications web page.

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