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| FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS |
What is a Commercial EPC?
An EPC certificate records how energy efficient a property is as a building and provides A-G ratings. These are similar to the labels now provided on domestic appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines. They are produced using standard methods and assumptions about energy usage so that the energy efficiency of one building can easily be compared with another. This allows prospective buyers, tenants and owners to see information about the energy efficiency and carbon emissions of a building so they can consider energy efficiency and fuel costs as part of their investment. An EPC is always accompanied by a recommendation report that lists cost effective and other measures to improve the energy rating.
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How long is an EPC valid for?
An EPC is valid for up to 10 years, unless a newer EPC is produced for the property, in which case only the latter is valid.
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When is the EPC required?
An EPC should be provided to a prospective buyer or tenant at the earliest possible opportunity and no later than when a viewing is conducted or when written information is provided about the building. Even if no marketing takes place it must be provided before entering into a contract for selling or letting. |
Are there any circumstances where we don't need an EPC?
EPCs are not required for building which fall in the category of;
• Place of worship.
• Temporary buildings with a planned time of use less than two years.
• Buildings with a total useful floor area of less than 50m2 that are not dwellings.
• Industrial sites, workshops and non-residential agricultural buildings with low energy demand.
• On sale or rent for buildings due to be demolished. |
What happens if we don't have an Energy Performance Certificate?
The penalty for failing to make an EPC available to any prospective buyer or tenant when selling or letting non-dwellings is fixed, in most cases at 12.5% of the rateable value of the building, subject to a minimum penalty of £500 and a maximum of £5,000. There is a default penalty of £750 where the formula cannot be applied. The EPC will still be required after paying the penalty charges. |
What if our building is subdivided into separate parts?
If a building has parts that have been designed or altered to be used separately with separate heating systems then it is also permissible to provide EPCs for each of the individual parts, in addition to an EPC for any communal areas. If a building has a common heating system, then the seller or prospective landlord can prepare an EPC for the whole building or for the individual part designed or altered to be used separately. An EPC should be prepared for each part of a building that is being offered separately for sale or let. If the whole building is being sold or let it is permissible to provide EPCs for each of the individual parts, in addition to an EPC for the conditioned communal areas or to provide one EPC for the whole building. Any separate residential accommodation that is self-contained will require its own domestic EPC. Residential space that can only be accessed via commercial premises will be assessed with the commercial premises as a single building. |
How much does it cost for a Commercial EPC?
The cost associated with the creation of an EPC for commercial and industrial properties is difficult to quantify due to the nature of the construction, the complexity, the size of the building and the potential complexity of the heating/cooling systems involved. The price will be significantly affected by the quantity and quality of the information provided to us, (for example drawings and floor plans). The more information you can provide us with, the cheaper your Commercial EPC will be. |
What steps one have to go through for an EPC?
It is very simple. First you need to fill in the form on the Price Quote page to receive a no-obligation quote from us. If you are happy with the quote then someone will contact you to request a small deposit and to book a convenient time to carry out the survey. Within 5 working days of the inspection, we will have produced your EPC and the recommendations. After we have provided you with the EPC, we will ask for the remainder of the payment before lodging it with the government body’s records.
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What is your Complaint Handling procedure?
In unlikely event that you are dissatisfied with our service, you can follow the complaints handling procedure as stated below. Please address any complaints to Energy Feat using the details below:
• Telephone: 0161 602 3410
• Email: hamedson@energyfeat.co.uk
• Address: Peter House, Oxford Street, St Peter's Square, Manchester M1 5AN
If you have initially made your complaint verbally, whether face-to-face or on the phone, please also make it in writing, addressed to Mr. A. H. Hamedson at the address provided above. Once we have received your written complaint, Energy Feat will contact you in writing within seven working days. At this stage we will give you our understanding of your complaint. We will also invite you to make any further comments that you may have in relation to your complaint. Within twenty-one days of receipt of your written summary, Energy Feat will write to you, to inform you of the outcome of its investigation into your complaint and to let you know what actions will be taken. If you remain dissatisfied with any aspect of the complaint handling, then we can discuss whether we can agree to go to mediation according to either the accreditation scheme of the energy assessor or an arbitration service. This scheme is operated by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Dispute Resolution Services, 12 Bloomsbury Square, London WC1A 2LP from whom you can obtain details related to complaints.
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