To EPC or Not?
It would seem that the legal requirement for energy performance certificates for commercial properties is not, at present, seen by all as a requirement.
Over the last few months we have been actively looking at commercial properties for sale or for lease throughout the country, asking commercial agents not just for sales or rental details but also for copies of the energy performance certificates that should accompany the marketing details. Surprisingly few of the agents we have approached have the information available, many agents preferring to wait for a purchaser or tenant for the commercial property before instructing an epc to be undertaken. The logic seems to be that this is saving their landlord clients costs when in fact what they are actually doing is exposing their landlord clients to the possibility of fines.
Since January of this year legislation has meant that any commercial property for sale or lease has to have a commercial energy performance certificate. It seems that this legislation is being overlooked by commercial agents and commercial property owners who only take action once there is a potential end user for the property.
This is going to create a problem, Trading Standards Officers are responsible for ensuring that the legislation is enforced and if it is noted that a commercial property is for sale or lease without the appropriate certificate then Trading Standards have the power to levy fines.
This is a situation that no-one wants to see arising, it is in landlords best interests to ensure that they have an epc in place, after all it is valid for upto ten years and having an epc on a property will ensure that the landlord does not incur additional punitive fines and costs. In fact both the landlord and agent may find it useful to have on file so that when the potential tenant or buyer's solicitor requets a copy it is already to hand rather than having to wait for one to be completed, no-one wants to lose a sale in the present market because some paperwork isn't in place.
For further information please contact our offices.
Labels: commercial energy performance certificate, commercial epc, energy efficiency, Grade II listed commercial property energy assessors
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