The Rant
EPC Assessors
Submitted by anonymous » Tue 25-Jul-2023, 09:02Subject Area: General | 1 member rating |
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In this piece are a cornucopia of juicy pointers around the theme of Qualified Domestic Energy Contractors.
Perhaps the most important aspect of the EPC document is the recommended top actions that you can take, how much these changes could cost, and how much money they could save you over three years. For instance, it may recommend cavity wall insulation as a top action. This work is estimated on the certificate to cost between £500 and £1,500 however over three years you could save £496. After a consultation in December 2020, the government have announced changes to the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for England and Wales. The government have proposed that all rental properties will need an EPC rating of ‘C’ or above by 2025. Similar to the previous changes, the new regulations will be introduced for new tenancies first, followed by all tenancies from 2028. After an EPC assessment, the Energy Performance Certificate will show the energy efficiency of your home based on a score from A to G. It’s not the sort of thing people frame and put on the wall, but it does contain some useful information for homeowners. A commercial Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is required when almost any commercial building is sold, let or has solar PV panels fitted. From 2018 it will be necessary to meet the Minimum Energy Performance Standard which is widely expected to be an EPC “E” rating. EPCs are not just a legal requirement but, also provide greater importance to the environmental value of a property. The Ratings now achieved and the improvements identified within the report will undoubtedly influence the decisions that investors, buyers and occupiers make and enable them to compare with similar buildings. Therefore, the higher the energy efficiency rating, the more desirable a property is likely to be. If you are unable to provide a valid EPC for your commercial property, you can face a fine of between £200 to £5000. The amount is scalable and depends upon the rateable value of the building.
DECs must be displayed in a prominent place and easily visible for the general public - such as at the entrance area of the building. Failing to display a DEC can result in a £500 fine. EPCs should not be taken too seriously when you are buying. The energy assessment doesn’t take into account how many people live in the property and assessors don’t have access to energy bills. An EPC will make recommendations for further energy saving measures that could be implemented, the expected cost of such measures, and the anticipated energy savings. A property will be given an energy efficiency grade between A (most efficient) and G (least efficient). That means prospective buyers can see at a glance how energy efficient the property is. An EPC includes information on what the energy efficiency rating could be if you made the recommended improvements and highlights cost effective ways to achieve a better rating. Even if you rent your home, you could still implement some improvements noted on the EPC, such as switching to more energy efficient light bulbs. An understanding of the challenges met by
epc commercial property can enhance the value of a project.
Recommending Actions To Achieve MEES Requirements
Some energy saving routes may require professional help, such as installing loft and wall insulation, replacing your boiler and installing solar panels. Purchasing efficient white goods – which have ratings like EPCs – will also contribute to your energy reduction. EPCs last for 10 years. If you’re selling your property and your EPC is still valid, you don’t need to do anything other than provide the EPC to your buyer. For landlords renting out a property, you also have to provide a valid EPC for your tenants and your property must have at least an E rating in order for it to be legally let. If your EPC has expired, or you’ve never had an assessment carried out, you’ll need to arrange one before you can legally market your property for sale or for rent. The requirement to get an EPC (if one is not already in place) is triggered when certain alterations are undertaken, on the construction of new properties and where a property is sold, assigned or rented. The EPC certificate is issued by an assessor and is valid for 10 years from registration on the EPC Register. Like the domestic dwellings market, commercial buildings are also being assessed in far greater numbers, which is increasing transparency and making comparability a lot easier from building to building. An EPC will include suggestions on how the owner or tenants can maximise the efficiency of the property. These suggestions could be cost effective or indicate further improvements that may result in higher efficiency but could require an expense initially. Research around
non domestic epc register remains patchy at times.
Domestic EPCs input lighting in a building by counting the number of total lights and the total number of energy-efficient lights. It makes a difference in the final energy rating by one or two points if you go from old lighting to a new efficient lighting system. A single point makes all the difference in aiming to boost your EPC rating. From April 2023, new legislation will come into force where it will be an offence to let a property which does not achieve a minimum 'E' efficiency standard, we look at the possible impact for landlords in England and Wales. The Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012 require an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is procured when a property is sold, let or refurbished. Energy efficiency brings a wide set of benefits to different parts of society. These range from: direct benefits that a homeowner can gain in terms of reduced energy bills, improved comfort in their home, and improvements to the value of their property; economic benefits such as job creation and the creation of new services; and energy system benefits from reduced demand including greater energy security, lower generation costs and network reinforcement costs. If you want to challenge your EPC rating or your certificate contains an error you should contact the energy assessor who carried out the report first. You’ll find their details on the energy performance certificate and you can ask them to re-assess your home based on your concerns. For example if you think they recorded the wrong appliances on your EPC or that they missed off an important factor. But if you’re not happy with the response you can appeal to the accreditation scheme the assessor is licensed by. You should also find the details on your certificate. Optimising a building’s energy efficiency may not always be the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to cost-cutting measures. However, if more commercial building owners work towards reducing electricity consumption, they will realise that these savings can actually free up funding. This funding can be devoted to other business projects that can help in supporting the company’s goals. Advising on matters such as
commercial epc will provide benefits in the long run.
Minimum Requirements For Commercial EPC Ratings
As a tenant looking to lease a commercial property, you should be extremely careful when checking the history of the building. Making sure the commercial property has an EPC rating of E or above is essential to prevent any disruption, eviction or even the potential of having to pay a contribution cost towards energy improvement. Bear in mind that EPCs don’t reflect the current condition of fabric or fittings. They’re also based on standard
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