EPC rating commercials buildings

[SolarCity]

I'm off to see my second proposed commercial install in the space of two days - potentially both very large. Good news.

Bad news. I haven't a clue what to suggest about EPC ratings. The buildings are both under 10 years old, gas heated warehouse, AC heated offices.

Now I know this is a very general question, but has anyone got any idea what sort of EPC rating a building of that age is likely to be? It appears to me that new homes will pretty much all get a D rating but what about new factory units? I'm thinking that acquiring an EPC certificate won't be cheap for a building this size.

 

[darrens1973]

Chris, very good point. We have a 2 year old building and did not get an EPC for it when we purchased it. I have a guy down here who does a domestic EPC for £30, I may give him a bell and ask how much for commercial on a sq foot basis. Will come back to you if I get any news. Thats if he can even do commercial !!!

 

[SolarCity]

Darren, that'd be appreciated.

 

[Mattty]

Chris, very good point. We have a 2 year old building and did not get an EPC for it when we purchased it. I have a guy down here who does a domestic EPC for £30, I may give him a bell and ask how much for commercial on a sq foot basis. Will come back to you if I get any news. Thats if he can even do commercial !!!

£30 quid for an EPC. Does the chap even go to the property or just make it up?

There may be an EPC on your property it's just the agent or solicitor didn't give it to you. You can check on the EPC database if one exists. Buildings finished after April 2008 shouldn't technically be signed off by building control without an EPC. It would be a newbuild EPC which is meant to be a bit more accurate than a regular EPC. Of course it may have slipped through the net.

Commercial EPCs are very different to domestic. If it is classed as a level 4 building and has many zones and no plans available the assessor could take several days to completed the survey and several more writing it up! But if is is just a warehouse with an office it wont take as long. Commercial assessors will generally need a lot more information than a domestic assessor to give an accurate quote.

 

[darrens1973]

Yes he was there for an hour and a half, sent through the report which was very accurate apart from the expected electricity cost for the lighting which was £62 a year. I have all LED lamps which in total only use 220w, so 4.5hrs per kw or 12p, meaning he is expecting ALL of the lights to be on for 2325hrs a year, maybe the kitchen and lounge but not bedrooms, wc etc. I assume there is a standard formula for them to work this out though.

 

[darrens1973]

Chris the guy does not do commercial, have a search here https://www.ndepcregister.com/searchAssessor.html and you can chose domestic or non domestic in the properties area, I dont think its going to be cheap, beginning to think maybe this is more of a deal breaker than the reduced FIT rates, imagine a secondary school or large factory unit who may wish to fit 10Kw of PV, it could cost a few grand to do the EPC, a lot of Schools already have them and I do believe larger businesses have to have them in the near future anyway. Guess its the small business who loses out again !!!
Glad I have my 10kw on my roof already )

 

[SolarCity]

A few grand? I think you're right, if we're talking that kind of money then it'll be a major obstacle - imagine if they spend the money and end up with an F or E rating.

I'll have to look at it again if we win the quote.

If it doesn't get the EPC rating then I don't see how they ever would - or any other commercial/industrial property for that matter. Their leccy use is huge so presumably a large PV system should help the situation.

 

[darrens1973]

I know Chris, I am guessing on the cost but you know what happens when commercial surveyors get involved !!!
Strangely my PV on my rental house did not make much of a difference on my EPC as far as I can see, it was just in the footnote at the bottom. It did come out a B though so it may have.

 

[TedM]

I haven't used it myself but you might give this a go - HOME SELLER EPC | COMMERCIAL EPC | LANDLORD EPC | DOMESTIC EPC

 

[SolarRoofSols]

There may be an EPC on your property it's just the agent or solicitor didn't give it to you. You can check on the EPC database if one exists.

Just clicked on the link - can only see where to retrieve a certificate so you need a certificate number for the search...am i missing something, can you search by address??

 

[SolarRoofSols]

I have had quotes of about £50 for local domestic assessors or £40 from a national company - who is offering it for £30??

I would love to keep it local but we need to stay competitive! I got a rate card from briaryenergy.co.uk for commercial EPCs, the size of building does make a big difference, starting at £288 for 50sq./m going to £13,800 for 25,000sq./m.

Also spoke to DECC yesterday who indicated that each FIT provider will have their own criteria for determining when an EPC can't be achieved. They will still follow theirs and OFGEM's recommendations and will be limited in scope but maybe some will be a little more relaxed than others...? Or is that just wishful thinking!?

 

[TedM]

Also spoke to DECC yesterday who indicated that each FIT provider will have their own criteria for determining when an EPC can't be achieved. They will still follow theirs and OFGEM's recommendations and will be limited in scope but maybe some will be a little more relaxed than others...? Or is that just wishful thinking!?

Oh, you have got to be ****ing joking!!!

That goes against everything I have been trying to achieve for the past three years.

 

[SolarRoofSols]

Oh, you have got to be ****ing joking!!!

That goes against everything I have been trying to achieve for the past three years.

I was on the phone for ages, so there may be an element of wanting to get me off the phone. I can't see in reality that there will be much scope for movement, they all paid the same level of FIT payments and export payments, so room to make a competitive advantage isn't really there.

 

[finchy]

if an epc cost £13K then would it be worth going down the FIT route ? Just look at the pure economic benefit power usage ... which to be honest my commercial customer isnt looking at the FIT income........

 

[darrens1973]

Just clicked on the link - can only see where to retrieve a certificate so you need a certificate number for the search...am i missing something, can you search by address??

I emailed them, there is a link to fill in an address for a property, they will then send a reply, guess what, my 18 month old unit does not have one !!!

 

[darrens1973]

if an epc cost £13K then would it be worth going down the FIT route ? Just look at the pure economic benefit power usage ... which to be honest my commercial customer isnt looking at the FIT income........

Indeed, they still get FIT at 9ppu and as you say, a big energy saving. Again it is another stealth tax type thingy to scupper the FIT Payments.