Commercial EPC
assessments in Bristol
Accredited non-domestic assessors based in Bristol. Certificate issued within 48 hours of the survey and lodged on the government register the same day.
- Bristol based non-domestic assessors
- 48 hrs certificate after the visit
- Same day register lodgement
Commercial EPCs, locally
If you own, manage or let commercial property in Bristol, you need a valid non-domestic EPC before the building is marketed or a new lease is granted. Our assessors are based in Bristol, which is the practical difference between a survey booked for next week and one booked for whenever a national firm can route someone down the M4.
We work across the whole of the city and the surrounding authorities: offices in the centre and around Temple Quarter, retail on the high streets, industrial and warehouse units at Avonmouth and Severnside, and the converted period stock around Clifton and the old city that needs a more careful assessment than a modern unit does.
Every assessment is carried out by an assessor accredited for non-domestic work through a government-approved accreditation scheme. A commercial EPC is not a bigger version of a domestic one: it uses a different methodology and a different scale, and a domestic assessor cannot legally produce one.
Who needs one?
Commercial landlords marketing a Bristol property to let
Property agents who need a certificate before going to market
Managing agents with certificates reaching the end of their 10 years
Owners of F and G rated buildings that cannot currently be let
What's involved
- One of our accredited non-domestic assessors visits your building
- We measure zones, and record fabric, heating, cooling and lighting
- Visit takes 1 to 3 hours depending on floor area and how many zones there are
- Certificate issued within 48 hours and lodged the same day
Certificate issued
Within 48 hrs
Measured from the survey, not from the enquiry. Lodged on the Energy Performance of Buildings Register the same day it is issued, so your agent or solicitor can pull it straight away.
Surveyed by assessors accredited for non-domestic work through a government-approved accreditation scheme.
What you get
-
Non-domestic EPC certificate
Rated A–G on the commercial scale, produced by an accredited non-domestic assessor.
-
Recommendation report
Ranked improvements with an indication of what each would do to the rating, included as standard.
-
Government register lodgement
Lodged on the Energy Performance of Buildings Register the same day, so agents and solicitors can find it.
-
MEES position in writing
A clear statement of whether the building can legally be let at its current rating, and what it would take to move up a band.
Why the rating matters
Under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard you cannot grant a new lease on a commercial building rated F or G, and you cannot continue to let one either. The rating is no longer a piece of paperwork at the end of a transaction, it is the thing that decides whether the building is lettable at all.
A great many Bristol commercial buildings were certified in the early 2010s, which means their certificates are expiring now. If yours is close to the line, the recommendation report tells you which improvements actually move the rating, and our MEES compliance reviews take that further into a costed plan across a portfolio.
Frequently asked questions
How quickly can you do a commercial EPC in Bristol?
Because our assessors are Bristol based, we can usually survey within a few working days of you getting in touch, and often sooner for city centre addresses. The certificate is issued within 48 hours of the survey and lodged on the government register the same day.
Who is accredited to produce a commercial EPC?
Non-domestic EPCs can only be produced by an assessor who is a member of a government-approved accreditation scheme and accredited for the relevant level of building. Our assessors hold Level 3 and Level 4 non-domestic accreditation, which covers everything from a small shop to a multi-zone office or industrial unit.
What is the difference between a commercial and a domestic EPC?
They use different methodologies and different scales. A commercial, or non-domestic, EPC is produced using SBEM and assesses the building as a set of zones with their own heating, cooling and lighting. It is a longer survey than a domestic EPC and cannot be produced by a domestic assessor.
Do I need a commercial EPC to let my Bristol property?
Yes. A valid EPC is required whenever a commercial property is sold or let in England, and it must be commissioned before the property is marketed. Under MEES you also cannot legally grant a new lease on a property rated F or G.
My certificate has expired. Does that matter?
An expired EPC is treated as no EPC. If you are marketing the property, or granting or renewing a lease, you need a valid one. Certificates last 10 years, so a great many Bristol commercial buildings certified in the 2010s are now falling due.
What about listed and period buildings?
Bristol has a lot of them, particularly around Clifton and the old city. Listed buildings are not automatically exempt: the exemption is narrower than most people assume and depends on whether the minimum energy performance requirements would unacceptably alter the building. We will tell you where you stand before you commit to anything.
Can you assess a whole portfolio?
Yes. If you manage several buildings across Bristol and the surrounding area we will survey them on a schedule that suits you and report on the portfolio as a whole, so you can see which properties are at risk under MEES and in what order to deal with them.
How much does a commercial EPC cost?
It depends on floor area, the number of zones and the complexity of the services. We quote a fixed price in writing before booking, so there are no variations afterwards.
Where we cover
Bristol and the surrounding authorities, including:
- Bristol city centre
- Clifton
- Temple Quarter
- Avonmouth
- Bedminster
- Filton
- Bath
- Weston-super-Mare
- South Gloucestershire
- North Somerset
Our office is at 3rd Floor, Old Stock Exchange, St Nicholas Street, Bristol BS1 1TG. If your building sits just outside these areas, call us and we will tell you straight away whether we can cover it.
Related services
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