A commercial EPC is something that you need when offering a commercial property for sale or to rent.
However, if a commercial property you are offering falls into any of the categories below then it will not required:
The purpose of a commercial EPC is to report to potential occupiers about the energy performance of a property. Therefore a high-rating commercial EPC could play a significant role in effectively marketing your property and make it more attractive to prospective buyers or tenants. There are various things that can be carried out, in order to improve your commercial property’s EPC rating cheaply:
Easy Access:
It is important to make sure that the Energy Assessor is able to get access to all of the parts of your commercial property that needs to be inspected in the EPC survey. According to Pinpoint Property Information, “If it is not possible to success some areas of your property, then they are forced to make assumptions, which must always based on a worst case scenario.” For instance, if the cupboard cannot be opened for any reason, the Energy Assessor will be forced to assume that it has no insulation fitted in, which then results in a worse EPC rating.
Prepare All Documentary Evidence:
If, for example, your commercial property has been converted recently but you fail to show the Assessor the building regulations sign off sheet, then the Energy Assessor will be forced to make the construction date the same as the main building’s original construction date, leading to a worse EPC rating. However it is essential that you provide them with any documentary evidence that will be acceptable proof for the Assessor to include in the EPC survey report.
Remove Any Portable Heaters:
A removal of any portable electric heaters in your commercial property prior to the EPC survey, could lead to a higher EPC score. This is because they are classed as a secondary heating method in the property, and are therefore less effective means of heating than its primary heat source. In the event, you should remove these heaters so that the only thing to be taken into consideration will be its primary heat source.
Use low energy bulbs:
Replacing any existing old traditional style bulbs with more cost effective low energy bulbs will improve your commercial EPC rating. Even though this is a small factor, in terms of affecting the EPC rating, it is possible that it could make difference to the rating if you are on the borderline between two ratings, for example a ‘C’ and a ‘D’ rating.
There are more expensive and effective ways to help your commercial property to gain a higher EPC rating, such as replacing the existing uneconomical gas boiler with more up to date heat pumps and filling your cavity walls, which Movehut will be looking into in the future.
