Propertymark wishes to remind commercial agents of upcoming energy efficiency regulation changes, as from 1 April 2023, the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 will apply to all tenancies, including those that are currently existing and ongoing tenancies.
In response to these changes, Propertymark has created a series of answers to FAQs to support their members and in turn, their landlords which includes details of the exemptions and enforcement.
The changes will mean that landlords will not be able to continue to let a non-domestic property which does not meet the minimum standard of an E unless there is an exemption which has been registered.
Anthony Meadowcroft, NAEA commercial president, said: “Landlords that need an EPC will be best to consult their local EPC assessors in preparation for any effected change, along with planning if there are any energy efficiency upgrades required.
“As some commercial tenants have in place Full Repairing and Insuring (FRI) leases that put maintenance responsibility onto commercial tenants, there needs to be a strong and transparent re-enforced message that this change will indeed have to be actioned by the landlord and not fall onto the tenant.”
According to the UK Government’s Heat and Buildings Strategy “around 40 per cent of all energy consumed in commercial and industrial buildings in England and Wales is in the rented sector, placing more responsibility on landlords to make energy efficiency and heating improvements.”
