Landlords need to ensure that all commercial properties on the market have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) in order to avoid fines of up to £5,000.
EPCs give information on how energy efficient a building is and also contain recommendations on how to reduce the building’s energy use and carbon dioxide emissions.
The new regulations which came into force on 6th April 2012 mean that:
- an EPC must be commissioned for all buildings before they are marketed as being for sale or rent
- where an EPC is not available, those selling or renting buildings must use “reasonable efforts” to ensure that one is obtained within seven days of marketing the property (previously 28 days)
- the first page of the EPC must be attached to the written particulars for the property
Commercial property owners and landlords need to be up to speed on these changes in order to market their properties effectively and compliantly.
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, this is 12.5 percent of the rateable value of the building, subject to a minimum of £500 and a maximum of £5,000, so failure to comply could prove costly.
For clarification and peace of mind on the new EPC arrangements, seeking the advice of a legal professional experienced in this field is a sensible step. Therefore, for more information on EPCs or any other commercial property matter, please contact Carey Jacobs.