If I sell my industrial unit
do I need an EPC?
If you are selling, renting or building commercial property, you need a Commercial EPC. An EPC should be provided to a prospective buyer or tenant at the earliest opportunity. There are a few exceptions when one is not required
·
places of worship;
·
temporary buildings with a planned time
of use less than two years;
·
stand alone (entirely detached)
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
If a building is
split into parts ‘designed or altered to be used as separate accommodation’ the
parts may each require their own EPC. The sale and let of commercial buildings
can be complex with multiple tenancies and uses.
Whether you need a
single or multiple EPCs may depend on the heating systems and your future plans
for the building.
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.
Call any of our
commercial property experts for guidance and advice as to selling your commercial
investment.