Estate agents may be forced to display EPCs – for their own offices.
The requirement could kick in as early as next year.
Display Energy Certificates (DEC) were originally required in all public sector building and offices larger than 1,000 sq metres that are frequently visited by the public.
There are fines of up to £5,000 for failure to display a DEC at all times in a prominent place.
But now MP Zac Goldsmith has proposed an amendment, Clause 22, to the Energy Bill, back before Parliament this autumn, that the requirement be extended to every single non-residential building.
The requirement would affect all buildings such as shops and offices.
Paul King, chief executive of the UK Green Building Council said: “There is widespread business support for the extension of DECs to commercial buildings because they help companies save money on energy bills and they provide a level playing field for comparing the market.”
.png)
%20-%20IMAGE%20Client%20Accounting%20%E2%80%93%20what%20are%20your%20options.jpg)
Comments
Perhaps they are just trying to re-employ all the HIPS inspectors sitting around at loose ends..?
surely if an agent rents his/her premisis the landlord will have to supply this, a bit like residential lettings???
its all about jobs for the boys utter rubbish.
Surely businesses should instead be required to have a compliance folder to hand, which contains this stuff instead, so some cheery compliance inspector can sit down with a nice cup of tea & a few bikkies and read through it all and give it a tick?
My bad everyone. Saw the EPC headline and the mind didn't pick upon the change to DEC in the main body. Though I confess, I am out of my comfort zone on this stuff in any case.
A first! A story that FTB Dan does not feel compelled to tell us our opinion!
Give him time..........
Paul King is talking out the bit he should be sitting on. What a twit. Someone comes in the front door and the heat goes out. So how can I save money on that one? I dont have the room or ability to put a heat/air lock of 2 doors in so who will give a sh1t about my office energy performance. Absolutely nobody who calls in.
Pray tell me where the gain or even the benefit may be and for whom?
Paul King says “There is widespread business support for the extension of DECs to commercial buildings..."
Widespread? I'm not at all convinced this is the case, it sounds more like a sign of vested interests coming to the fore.
At a time of economic constraint the last thing the business world needs is more bureaurocracy.
Yes it is proposed (note, a proposal) that this be mandatory for all commercial buildings.
Jessie, I believe the statement by Zak Goldsmith was
"The intention of new clause 22 is to make it mandatory for all commercial buildings over a certain size to have display energy certificates." If you have information to the contrary I would be interested to know the source.
and quite apart from all the facts below, I am sick of being asked to put tacky looking stickers in my window ... NAEA, Rightmove, OFT, Ombudsman, Property Live, Smoking banned on these premises etc etc etc.
I am trying for a clean, uncluttered window look and this junk is not n eeded in the window. But thene elsewhere I have to prominently display Ombudsman code of Practice booklets, Fire certificate, Public L:iability Insurance certificate, Lord knows what other certificates and chhoose to have a sprinkling of Ombudsman, NAEA, NFOPP & anti-moneylaundering certificates. Oh yes, Health & Safety and Company Policy. Not sure I have room for displaying properties for sale.
No-one in the real world gives a monkeys about seeing these blasted certificates. Surely businesses should instead be required to have a compliance folder to hand, which contains this stuff instead, so some cheery compliance inspector can sit down with a nice cup of tea & a few bikkies and read through it all and give it a tick?
Ian Sturt, the Zak Goldsmith amendment seeks to extend the requirement to ALL non-residential buildings, regardless of size. I agree it's a DEC, not an EPC, but for intents and purposes, it's pretty much the same.
I would encourage EAT to remove this article and replace it with one that does not contain such blatant errors in order to prevent further confusion.
The requirement is for DECs not EPCs.
It will affect only buildings over a certain size, not all buildings as stated in the article. Since most Estate Agent offices will be well below the relevant size it will not be a requirement for them.
The responses already posted illustrate the confusion being caused by this post talking about EPCs and EAT has a responsibility to issue a correction as soon as possible.
Correction to last posting this bit with the Building Manager quote should say...
"there isn't a Building who thought the DEC wasn't of benefit!!"
If I was earning decent wages I could afford a new keyboard instead...sticking keys will have to do!
OH!...and before I forget the Author of the story has caused immediate confusion by the story heading and opening comments being entirely wrong!!!!!
Paul King, chief executive of the UK Green Building Council said: “There is widespread business support for the extension of DECs ...."
Really! Please give figures.
A DEC is not an EPC. it depends how the proposal is shaped as to whether or not commercial EPC becomes necessary.
Commercial EPC's are required on all commercial buildings with only a handful of exceptions. The trigger for one is either selling or renting, so existing Tenants will not need one. Obviously if an EA rents a office the commercial EPC becomes the responsibility of the Landlord to provide, so this is not incumbent upon the proposed Tenant as it is with residential property.
...your should all know this stuff.
It depends on how they propose the trigger for the DEC be decided. As it stands it's Public buildings only over a certain size as it is not currently linked to an EPC. Size is the only trigger and not whether you are buying or renting.
To say "little or no control over the rating" clearly proves Chris Wood doesn't know the difference bewteen an EPC or a DEC...before ranting off you need to read up.
Whilst some aspects of the DEC are within the remit of the Owner/Landlord, how the building is operated by the occupier is clearly of considerable importance to occupier.
...and yes the occupier can affect the rating on a DEC!
The DEC not only deals with the built form and fixed building services as an EPC would, but also brings into account the occupiers process equipment, hours of operation, energy billing data for a previous 365 day period and general behaviours.
I have completed over 300 DEC's for Public Bodies including National Blood Service, NHS, Schools and Councils. I can assure you there isn't one Building Manager who thought it was of benefit. Most now have energy/carbon reduction regimes in place as a result of realising they were potentially out of control in needlessly burning energy, and having been directed by the advisory recommendation report on where and how to tackle the problem.
If you think this is nothing but a single sheet EPC for display in a shop window...seriously think again you got it horribly wrong.
It is the responsibility of the property owner to provide an EPC. The Landlord would be required to commission the Energy Assessment.
This has been on the cards for some time but Chris seems to have crossed wires somewhere as a DEC is an operational rating which measures the way a building is used ( although the building itself inevitably affects the rating); a year on year DEC rating shows how the use of the building improves (or not) over time. An EPC is an asset rating which is something entirely different.
Agreed. What possible benefit will there be to the majority of agents who rent their premises, and so have little or no control over rating, but, will no doubt have to pay for a commercial EPC?
Another crazy possible requirement.