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* Nearly every property on the market requires an EPC
* Trading Standards can issue a Penalty Notice of up to £5,000
* The law requires an EPC to be supplied without charge
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is considered by many occupiers and owners to be an unnecessary cost when putting their space on the market. Some surveys are suggesting that fewer than 50% of commercial properties on the market have a valid EPC.
A fine of up to £5,000 awaits property owners who have not arranged for an EPC to be prepared. Robert Fairbairn, of epcsouth, part of the goadsby group, warned “you may not even be aware that Trading Standards are investigating - until the penalty notice arrives. EPCs are lodged on a central database and this is then matched against the address of a property advertised to let or for sale. Trading Standards can investigate and issue a penalty without even leaving their office!”
300 EPCs on commercial property have already been prepared by Robert and his colleague, Ian Moore. A year after the legislation first came into effect there is now increasing pressure to step up enforcement and Robert is expecting a busy few months ahead.
Many owners leave the EPC until a sale has been agreed, in order to save money. But the law requires an EPC to be available when the first viewing is carried out.
“The new occupier doesn’t want one” is often the response - but the law does not allow such an agreement between parties to a commercial transaction. Indeed, Trading Standards have the power to look back; even 6 months after a transaction completed, and can issue a penalty notice if an EPC has not been supplied.
Virtually every commercial property needs to have an EPC, from a single office to a guest house. There are only very limited exceptions, most of which fall within Use Classes B3-B7. If you would like more information, or to arrange for an Energy Performance Certificate, Robert can be contacted on 02380 227337 or email Robert.Fairbairn@epcsouth.com
(17/11/2009)
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