Energy certificates ‘an unwanted extra cost’

Mar 26 2008 by Alex Turner, Liverpool Daily Post

ENERGY perform-ance certificates (EPCs) are unlikely to heat up the commercial property market when they become compulsory on April 6.

Kate Bullen, a commercial property solicitor with Steph-ensons Solicitors, believes the costs may be an unwanted additional cost in a less than buoyant property market.

She said: “With the cost of an energy performance certificate likely to be £3,500 upwards for a building over 10,000 sq m, it could be an unwelcome cost for owners looking to sell or let after April 6.

“Commercial prop-erty accounts for at least 20% of the UK’s energy consumption and CO2 emissions, and if the UK is to meet the terms of the Kyoto agreement, measures such as EPCs are said to be a vital step in the right direction. But it is commonly known there is a shortage of qualified energy assessors in some areas, which could in turn drive up the cost of an EPC and prolong the amount of time it takes to obtain one.”

From April 6, larger buildings with a total useful floor area of over 10,000sq m will require an EPC, followed by buildings over 2,500 sq m from July 1. All other properties will be included from October 1.