Commercial EPC London

What is a commercial EPC and who needs one?

A commercial EPC, also called a non-domestic EPC, is the energy rating for business premises such as offices, shops, restaurants, surgeries, gyms and warehouses. It is needed when a building is constructed, sold or let, and the owner or landlord must make it available to prospective buyers or tenants.

Like a domestic certificate, a commercial EPC is valid for 10 years. It comes with a recommendation report listing improvements that could raise the rating. EPCs are produced by accredited Domestic/Non-Domestic Energy Assessors (Elmhurst / Stroma accreditation schemes), and a commercial EPC must be produced by an assessor accredited for the building’s complexity level.

Some buildings can be exempt, for example places of worship, temporary buildings, certain low-energy industrial sites, standalone buildings under 50 m² and buildings due for demolition. If you are unsure whether your premises qualify, ask us before you book.

Do mixed-use buildings in London need more than one EPC?

Usually, yes. In a typical London high street building, the shop or restaurant on the ground floor needs a commercial EPC, while each self-contained flat above needs its own domestic EPC.

We regularly see this on parades of shops with flats over them, and in converted houses where a ground-floor office sits below residential units. Getting the boundary right matters: the commercial assessment should cover only the space being let or sold, and shared areas such as a rear store or staff toilet need to be allocated correctly. If you also need a domestic certificate for the flats, see our domestic EPC service.

How is a commercial EPC different from a domestic EPC?

A commercial EPC models the building in much more detail. The assessor divides it into zones by activity, such as office, retail, kitchen, storage or toilets, and records how each zone is heated, cooled, ventilated and lit.

The assessment is run through approved calculation software, most commonly SBEM (the Simplified Building Energy Model). The result is compared with a reference building of the same size and use, and the rating runs from A+ to G. Unlike a domestic EPC, a lower number on a commercial certificate means better performance.

The complexity level affects who can carry out the assessment, how long the survey takes and how much modelling is involved. That is why larger and more heavily serviced buildings are quoted individually.

What EPC rating does a commercial letting need under MEES?

Privately rented commercial property in England and Wales must meet a minimum rating of E under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES), unless a valid exemption is registered. The minimum now applies to existing leases as well as new lettings.

Penalties for non-domestic breaches are linked to the building’s rateable value and can reach £150,000. Separately, failing to make an EPC available to a prospective buyer or tenant can also lead to a fine. The government’s non-domestic MEES landlord guidance explains how exemptions are registered and how the rules are enforced.

If your building sits near the bottom of band E, it is compliant today but has little headroom. A tenant’s fit-out, such as new air conditioning or a change of use from storage to office, can change how the building is assessed. It is worth checking lease clauses on alterations and asking for a fresh EPC after major works.

What should you have ready for a commercial EPC survey?

Good information makes the survey faster and the rating more accurate. Where the assessor cannot confirm a feature, the software uses default assumptions, which are usually less favourable.

• Floor plans or drawings: even a fire plan or a lettings plan helps with zoning and floor area.
• Access to plant: boilers, air conditioning units, hot water heaters, ventilation units and any roof plant.
• Lighting details: the type of fittings and any controls such as presence detection or daylight dimming.
• Building services records: commissioning sheets, service records or manufacturer details for heating and cooling equipment.
• Works history: dates of insulation, glazing, roof or services upgrades, with any supporting paperwork.
• The extent of the let: which floors or units are being sold or let, and which areas are shared.

How can a commercial building improve its EPC rating?

Lighting and heating and cooling systems usually offer the quickest gains in commercial premises, because they are modelled in detail and are easier to upgrade than the building fabric.

• Replace old fluorescent and halogen lighting with LED fittings, and add presence or daylight controls.
• Upgrade old heating or cooling plant to modern, efficient equipment with proper time and temperature controls.
• Fit local, efficient hot water heaters where long pipe runs from a central system waste heat.
• Improve roof insulation and glazing at the next refurbishment or lease break.

If you are replacing tired split units in an office or shop, our air conditioning installation team can advise on efficient systems, and a new EPC afterwards puts the improvement on record.

How much does a commercial EPC cost in London?

Commercial EPCs from BritCertify start at £299 inc. VAT for premises up to 200 m², with fixed prices up to 1,000 m² and a written quote for anything larger. For smaller premises the certificate is often issued the same day as the survey. Larger or more complex buildings take longer because each zone has to be modelled.

To get an accurate price, send us the address, the approximate floor area, what the premises are used for and any plans you have through our quote form. If you are not sure of the floor area, a lettings brochure or lease plan is usually enough for us to confirm the right price band before the visit.

Letting a unit usually means other compliance checks too. Many commercial landlords and tenants book a commercial EICR and a commercial fire risk assessment at the same time, so the premises are ready for a new occupier in one round of visits.