Questions and Answers
Q. I am intending to sell / let the building as a whole – what do I need to do ?
A. You should have an EPC prepared for the whole building, even if that building has parts designed or altered to be used separately with separate heating systems.
Q. What about where part of the building has a common heating system?
A. If a building has a common heating system, then the seller or landlord can prepare or make available an EPC for the whole building or for a part designed or altered to be used separately. The EPC will be based on the energy consumption of the building apportioned in relation to the area of the accommodation being offered.
Q. My building has separate parts and a separate heating system so what do I do ?
A. An EPC should be prepared or made available for each part of a building that is being offered separately for sale or let. The EPC should reflect the services in those part(s) being offered for sale or let and will include a portion of the energy consumption of any common areas that exist solely or mainly for access to the part.
Q. I’ve got a self contained flat over my premises do I need a commercial premises energy certificate?
A. If the flat is for sale or letting purposes and cannot be accessed from the shop then it does not require a commercial property energy certificate. It may well require a non commercial epc though. If it can be accessed from the shop / retail premises then it can be included in the commercial epc.
Q. The flat over my premises are accessed through the store so what so I do?
A. Residential space that can only be accessed via commercial premises (i.e. a house with a shop in a downstairs room or a shop with accommodation where the access is through the shop) will be assessed with the commercial premises as a single building (where SBEM is more appropriate).
Q. What about shell and core units without services, connections or meters?
A. If there is the expectation that the unit will have conditioned space, then an EPC is required. The EPC for the shell and core work is based on the maximum design fit out spec that is used for compliance under Part L of the Building Regulations.
Q. And if my shell and core unit is to be divided and used separately ?
A. If you create more or fewer parts and provide or extend fixed services (e.g. heating, hot water, air conditioning or mechanical ventilation) then you will need to provide an EPC for the building. Having said that there are exceptions, creating a new part without changing the fixed services at all or changing the fixed services without creating a new part will not trigger the need for an EPC. However if the new parts you create have separate fixed services then each new part will require an EPC.
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