Minimum EPC requirements changed on 1 April – are you compliant?

From 1 April 2023, it is illegal to let or sub-let a non-domestic, e.g., commercial, industrial or agricultural property, if it has an EPC rating of an F or a G. Usually an EPC will be commissioned on sale or letting but undertaking substantial works also triggers the requirement for an EPC to be undertaken.

The current EPC rules have applied to new lettings since 2018 but now apply to all lettings where an EPC is legally required – mainly those let on a lease or tenancy – even if there is no change in tenant or landlord.

A property doesn’t require an EPC if:

• It is listed or specially protected
• It is a place of worship
• It is a temporary building expected to be up for less than two years
• It is industrial, a workshop or an agricultural building with a low energy demand
• It is a non-agricultural building in a sector covered by a national sector agreement on energy performance – note that there are not any such agreements in place at the time of writing
• It is a standalone building with a floor area of 50m² or less
• It is furnished holiday accommodation
• There is a proposal to demolish the property.

After 1 April 2023, you cannot continue to let a non-domestic property unless it has an EPC rating of E or above, or an exemption has been registered. The exemptions work on a self-certification basis and there are several principal grounds for exemption:

1. Works have been done and the property is still sub-standard – i.e., below an E rating
2. Any works would devalue the property by 5% or more in the opinion of a qualified surveyor
3. The works would not meet the seven-year payback test – the high value exemption
4. Installation of external wall insulation would negatively affect the fabric or structure of the building in the opinion of a qualified person
5. Lack of third-party consent e.g. tenant or planning consent
6. You have unexpectedly become a landlord, for example through death or purchase of a property which is let.

Each exemption lasts for five years, other than number six, which lasts six months, and the onus  is on the property owner to manage their own exemptions. Importantly, exemptions do not transfer with a property so if there is a change in ownership, even internally between companies or trusts, a new exemption will need to be registered.

If it is found that your property is non-compliant and does not have an exemption, there can be a fine of up to £10,000 or 10% of the property’s rateable value.