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.
First, check the assessment
Before committing capital, confirm the rating reflects the building. Certificates produced without plant data, lighting schedules or fabric evidence carry conservative defaults, and a re-assessment supported by documentation frequently moves the result by a band without any physical works.
Improvement measures that work
LED lighting with presence and daylight controls, heating plant replacement (particularly moving off direct electric or ageing gas plant), improved BMS control, roof and pipework insulation, and on-site PV are the measures that most consistently change bands in non-domestic buildings.
If improvement is not viable
Where all relevant measures meeting the seven-year payback test have been installed, or consent has been refused, or a measure would devalue the property by more than 5%, a MEES exemption can be registered on the PRS Exemptions Register — typically for five years, with supporting evidence.
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.