Commercial Property Energy Performance Certificates
Since 1 October 2008, practically all landlords and owners of commercial property in England and Wales have been required to obtain a Commercial Property Energy Performance Certificate (CEPC) when marketing their property for sale or rent.
The CEPC must be made available to a prospective buyer or tenant before a contract for sale, rent, or lease is entered into and no later than the release of marketing materials for the property, or the request for a visit to the property.
The CEPC is similar in content to certificates that have been used in residential property transactions since the introduction of the much publicised Home Information Packs or ‘HIPs’. In both cases, the objective is to assess the energy performance of a property.
A CEPC can only be provided by an accredited commercial energy assessor and, once issued, remains valid for 10 years (or until an up-to-date certificate is produced).
Inevitably, there is a cost associated with CEPCs, dependent upon the nature of the construction and the complexity and size of the building(s). These costs may be reduced if the person commissioning the CEPC can provide the energy assessor with information about the property e.g. construction and floor plans.
Tony Coates, Commercial Property Solicitor at Birchall Blackburn, is concerned that commercial property owners should understand the importance of obtaining the CEPC, explaining that, “whilst obtaining a CEPC will undoubtedly be an unwanted additional expense for landlords and property owners, the cost of not complying could be far greater – up to £5,000, depending on the rateable value of the building”.
If you require any more information as to what your obligations are and how you can ensure that you comply with the legislation, please do not hesitate to contact us. We can explain the legislation, guide you through the process and put you in touch with energy assessors who can help.
For further information, see our Business Property section.