EPCs displayed by minority of commercial properties

15 March 2010

Written by Simon Whittaker

Business mortgage holders who own commercial property may consider obtaining energy performance certificates (EPCs).

According to a monthly index by NES and Building.co.uk, 39 per cent of commercial properties for sale or rent had the certificates in February.

This was a growth of three per cent on the previous month.

Paul Taylor of East Sussex Council stated: "Having conducted a lot of work into improving compliance with commercial EPCs, I am fully aware of the obstacles preventing the levels of compliance [non-domestic energy assessors] would like to see."

He added that the legislation on the issue has too many grey areas.

Commercial mortgage holders can get advice from the council on EPCs and officers will be visiting businesses.

Building.co.uk explained that more than 80 per cent of commercial property agents could not show a mandatory EPC for their buildings in June 2009, so the index was introduced.

The government notes that EPCs are required by any building that is sold or rented out and the certificates show how energy efficient those premises are.

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