Note: This is a general guide for UK commercial property owners and professionals. Non-domestic EPC regulations, registers and processes differ across England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Always check the current position on GOV.UK and the relevant national register before acting on any specific matter.
Buildings outside the requirement
Places of worship, temporary buildings with a planned life of two years or less, stand-alone non-dwellings under 50m², and industrial sites, workshops and non-residential agricultural buildings with low energy demand generally do not require an EPC. Buildings scheduled for demolition, with the relevant consents in place, may also be excluded.
MEES exemptions are different
A building can require an EPC and still be lawfully let below band E through a registered MEES exemption — for example where all relevant improvements meeting the seven-year payback test have been made, where third-party consent has been refused, or where a measure would devalue the property by more than 5%.
These exemptions must be registered on the PRS Exemptions Register, are usually valid for five years, and are not automatic. Supporting evidence, including a valid EPC and often an independent report, is required.
Getting it wrong
Local weights and measures authorities can issue penalties based on rateable value for non-compliant lettings, alongside publication on the register. Assuming an exemption applies without registering it is the most common error.
Next steps
If you'd like specific advice about a property or portfolio, request a quote and our in-house assessors will come back to you.