When a business calls us about a commercial EPC, it’s usually because a lease is about to be signed and someone’s solicitor has just asked for the certificate. Fair enough — but the rules are easier to handle when you’re ahead of them. Here are the questions we get asked most, answered plainly.
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What is a commercial EPC certificate?
A commercial EPC rates the energy efficiency of a non-domestic building from A (most efficient) to G. It covers the building services that actually drive the score — lighting, HVAC, insulation — and lists recommended improvements. One thing worth knowing: commercial EPCs are produced using the SBEM method (Simplified Building Energy Model), not the RdSAP method used for homes, and they’re carried out by a non-domestic energy assessor. EPCRATE handles commercial assessments at company level under NDEA accreditation — see our commercial EPC service for London.
Which commercial buildings need an EPC?
Any commercial building over 50m² that’s being sold, let or newly constructed. In practice that means offices, shops and retail units, warehouses and factories, hotels and restaurants, care homes and healthcare centres, and public buildings. The certificate must exist before the property is marketed, and it has to be available to prospective buyers or tenants. Public buildings over 250m² occupied by public authorities also have to display their EPC prominently.
What is the minimum EPC rating for a commercial property in 2026?
Band E. A commercial building rated F or G can’t lawfully be let or leased unless a valid exemption is registered. Commercial EPCs are valid for 10 years, though a major refurbishment is a good moment to renew — the works only help your lettability if the register shows them.
What’s coming next? The government’s non-domestic roadmap has proposed tightening the commercial minimum toward EPC B by 2030, with an interim band C milestone. Timings have shifted and remain under consultation, so treat those dates as directional rather than fixed — but if your unit is sitting at D or E, the direction of travel is clear enough to start planning.
What are the penalties for not having a commercial EPC?
For non-domestic property the penalty scales with the building’s rateable value and how long the breach runs:
| Offence | Penalty (non-domestic) |
|---|---|
| Letting a sub-band-E property (breach over 3 months) | Up to £150,000 (rateable-value based) |
| No EPC available at sale or letting | Up to £5,000 |
| Failure to display an EPC in a qualifying public building | Up to £500 |
Can a business claim a commercial EPC exemption?
Yes, in specific circumstances — and every one of them has to be registered and renewed every five years:
- High cost — the recommended improvements exceed the applicable payback threshold
- Consent barriers — landlord, tenant or planning consent can’t be obtained
- Listed or heritage status — where the works would unacceptably alter the building’s character
- Temporary buildings in use for less than two years
What affects a commercial EPC rating most?
The fabric and services: wall, roof and floor insulation, glazing, heating and cooling plant, air-conditioning controls, lighting, and any solar PV or renewables. From the assessments we do across London, the quickest wins on a typical commercial unit are usually lighting controls and heating/cooling zoning — far cheaper than fabric work, and often enough to lift a borderline E into a safer band before a lease event.
How do I book a commercial EPC in London?
EPCRATE assesses offices, retail, hospitality and industrial space across London, with fast-track certificates when a lease or sale deadline is bearing down. Commercial EPCs from £180. Book an assessment, check pricing, or call 020 3488 4142. Rated ★★★★★ on Google Reviews and Trustpilot; Greater London Energy Efficiency Awards — Commended 2024 and Highly Commended 2025.
Commercial EPC — quick answers
What is the minimum EPC rating for a commercial let?
Band E. Letting a commercial building below band E is unlawful unless a valid exemption is registered.
How is a commercial EPC calculated?
Using the SBEM method for non-domestic buildings, carried out by a non-domestic energy assessor — not the RdSAP method used for homes.
How much does a commercial EPC cost?
From £180, depending on the size and complexity of the building.
Written by Jino Jose
DEA Accredited Energy Assessor · EPCRATE, London · Founded 2015
Jino Jose is the founder of EPCRATE and an accredited Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA). He has carried out thousands of EPC assessments across all 32 London boroughs since 2015, with NDEA-accredited assessors at EPCRATE covering commercial properties.
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