BUSINESS CENTRES - ONE OR MULTIPLE EPCs....
We're constantly told that it is for the courts to interpret the law and provide clarity to such questions. For now, the best source for clarification is the Government issued Landlords Guidance document entitled “A guide to energy performance certificates for the construction, sale and let of non dwellings (Improving the energy efficiency of our buildings)” and can be found using this link reading from the start of Chapter 1 (pages 6, 7 and 8). This advice applies to any commercial 'multiple occupancy' setting, not just Business Centres.
Until such time as a suitable person has undertaken a review of the whole of the premises (all of the letting units, and all Common and Retained parts) then no clear decision can be made regarding the suitability of a single EPC. The review will consider all of the HVAC (heating, cooling and ventilation) systems that serve the premises and will determine if they are centrally controlled or if control is devolved to the individual units occupied by the tenants. If any of the HVAC systems are controlled at the tenant level then EPC’s on each of the letting units must be prepared and be available to persons interested in a unit or units.
© Grahame Childs & Company - Mar 2024