A third more commercial buildings ‘could be unlettable’
Suzanne Lovell
According to the energyst a third of commercial buildings thought to meet minimum energy efficiency requirements so that landlords may continue to let them may actually fall foul of incoming legislation, modelling of 3,500 “well managed” buildings suggests.
It said: "Arbnco (previously CO2 Estates) analysed the data via the latest version of its EPC platform, which contains over 3,500 EPC models all produced within the last five years. It found that 33% of buildings previously carrying a D or E rating, sufficient to meet Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES), which come into force in April 2018, dropped into an F or G rating.
The new laws mean public and private sector non-domestic landlords may not grant a tenancy to new or existing tenants if their property has an EPC rating of band F or G. From 2023, landlords will not be able to lease buildings with an energy efficiency rating lower than E.
While landlords can self-certify exemptions from the scheme as of next month, Arbnco says its modelling serves as a warning that many building energy ratings may be inaccurate, and that more commercial buildings than thought could theoretically be taken off the market under the new laws.
The firm pointed out that its modelling looked at “well managed” building stock, suggesting that if even this stock was not up to scratch, many more properties could fare worse under proper scrutiny."
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