SELLERS of commercial property as well as their agents risk fines if they don’t include information from Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) on their marketing material.
From April 6 the marketing of commercial property will be brought into line with residential premises
Stuart Holton, a chartered surveyor and EPC assessor at Aitchison Raffety, based in Milton Keynes, said: “This will have a major effect on commercial agents with most of them presumably taking the decision to refuse to market properties where EPCs have not been at least ordered.
“Most owners of properties which are being marketed have already obtained EPCs and so there is now likely to be a rush from the remaining few to get everything in place before the deadline. Agents will also have to change marketing material to ensure that the required information is displayed”.
The person responsible for marketing the property will be liable to a fine under the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections)(England and Wales) Regulations 2007.
It will be mandatory for anyone marketing commercial properties to display the front page of an EPC Certificate with the marketing media, most notably including the familiar bar chart, within 28 days of marketing commencing.
Fines are up to a maximum of 12.5 per cent of the rateable value of the property being marketed, subject to a minimum fine of £750 and maximum fine of £5,000. Trading Standards, the organisation responsible for ensuring compliance has also been given increased powers.
l Aitchison Raffety, which has offices in Hemel Hempstead and Berkhamsted, has been shortlisted in this year’s Property Week awards.
The group, of chartered surveyors, valuers, town planners and estate agents, has been shortlisted in the Professional Agency Team of the Year category. The overall winner will be announced in April.