Signed Off
List your firm Get quotes
03 · Existing buildings & works · EPC

Commercial EPC

A commercial (non-domestic) EPC rates the energy performance of a building such as a shop, office, warehouse or restaurant. You need one to sell or let the building, and landlords must meet a minimum rating.

DWGuide by Dan Wallis · Updated 27 September 2026

This guide covers the rules in England. See Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

101 commercial energy assessorsEPC
Who needs oneAnyone selling or letting a shop, office or other non-domestic building
Who can do itA Non-Domestic Energy Assessor at level 3, 4 or 5, depending on the building
WhenBefore the building is marketed. An EPC lasts 10 years

101 commercial energy assessors listed across the UK

Featured (paid) listings first, then A–Z · How we check listings

Find commercial energy assessors by region

London (22) South East (19) East of England (10) South West (5) West Midlands (13) East Midlands (8) Yorkshire and the Humber (7) North West (18) North East (3) Wales (5) Scotland (6) Northern Ireland (10)

National providers (29)

When you need a commercial EPC

  • Selling or letting. You must have ordered an EPC before the building is marketed, with the same 7-day and 21-day allowance as for homes.
  • New buildings. A new non-domestic building needs an EPC on completion.
  • It lasts 10 years. Buildings over 500 m² that the public visits often must also display their EPC.
  • Exemptions include places of worship, temporary buildings, stand-alone buildings under 50 m², some low-energy industrial and agricultural buildings, and buildings due for demolition.

Which assessor level do you need?

  • Level 3: simpler buildings with natural ventilation, such as small shops and offices.
  • Level 4: larger buildings, or those with air conditioning or mechanical ventilation.
  • Level 5: complex buildings, such as those with atriums or large areas of glazing, assessed with detailed computer modelling.

Minimum ratings for commercial lets

In England and Wales, a commercial building must have an EPC of at least E to be let, and this has applied to all leases since 1 April 2023 unless a valid exemption is registered. In June 2026 the government proposed raising the minimum to B from 2031 for buildings over 1,000 m², with smaller buildings staying at E. That still needs new legislation.

Marketing a building without an EPC can lead to a fine of 12.5% of its rateable value, between £500 and £5,000.

Display Energy Certificates

Public authority buildings over 250 m² that the public visits often need a Display Energy Certificate (DEC), which shows the building’s actual energy use. A DEC is separate from an EPC, and many commercial energy assessors can produce both.

In Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

This guide describes the rules in England. Building regulations are devolved, so here is how commercial EPC works in the rest of the UK.

Wales

The rules are the same as in England, including the minimum rating of E for commercial lets.

Scotland

Commercial EPCs are lodged on the Scottish EPC Register. Buildings over 1,000 m² that are sold or let to a new tenant also need a Section 63 action plan from a registered adviser, and the improvements must be made within 42 months, or annual energy-use reports produced instead. New-style EPCs are due from 30 April 2028.

Northern Ireland

A commercial EPC is needed when a building is built, sold or let, and it lasts 10 years. Northern Ireland uses the same government register as England and Wales. There is currently no minimum EPC rating for commercial lets.

Common questions

How much does a commercial EPC cost?

It depends on the size and complexity of the building and the assessor level needed. Assessors set their own prices, so compare quotes.

How do I know which level I need?

It depends mainly on the heating, cooling and ventilation systems. Describe the building when you ask for quotes and the assessor will confirm the level.

How long does a commercial EPC last?

Ten years, unless a newer EPC is produced for the building.

Is a DEC the same as an EPC?

No. An EPC rates the building’s potential performance, while a DEC shows its actual energy use and is needed for certain public buildings.

New to the jargon? See our glossary of terms, from air permeability to TrustMark.