A workplace design specialist Space Solutions is seeing a marked increase in the number of businesses taking steps to comply with new green ratings for commercial premises.

However, the firm's Environmental Consultant Rhona Turnbull says the majority of business premises owners are still unclear about the legal requirement for Energy Performance Certificates (EPC).

Now she has urged companies to do their homework on the new legislation - or risk facing costly delays when trying to sell or rent properties, as well as fines.

Since January demand for the service has increased dramatically as more and more businesses rush to comply with new laws which state most commercial premises must have an EPC at the point of sale or lease.

-- Advertisement --

Rhona recently bolstered her existing environmental credentials by qualifying as a certified EPC Assessor and added: "The EPC system is in its infancy, so there is still a lot confusion even among property professionals about exactly how it works. We can guide people through this.

"Put simply it is an A-G rating of how well a building performs in environmental terms, very like the rating you get when buying a new fridge or a washing machine."

Rhona says typically people are looking for lower running costs which a good rating can be an indicator of.

From January a seven-day grace period was available for businesses to attain an EPC during commercial property transactions. From April 1 that buffer period disappeared and those without EPCs could face fines.

Rhona added: "Therefore now is the ideal time for companies to be more proactive in getting their premises assessed."

Rhona urged workplace owners to act swiftly, particularly if they may be selling or letting their premises. Failure to have an EPC in time could cause a deal to collapse because it is now a legal requirement for any such transaction.

She added: "To have a sale or potential rental deal fall through because of a lack of an EPC certificate could be extremely costly. We've already had a number of clients come to us needing an EPC at very short notice."

(GK/JM)