The COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, in November 2021, made clear how much of the UK’s carbon comes from existing buildings. New homes can be built to high standards; the harder task is improving the buildings we already have. For owners and managing agents, that turned into three practical questions.
1. Can I still let it?
Under the minimum energy efficiency standards for privately rented property, commercial premises needed an EPC rating of at least E to be let on a new lease from April 2018, and the rule was due to extend to all existing commercial lettings from April 2023. Owners with poorly rated buildings needed to know where they stood well before then, and what work would lift the rating.
2. Should energy work be part of the repair plan?
The cheapest time to improve a building is when it is already being worked on. A roof being recovered can be insulated; windows being replaced can be upgraded; plant at the end of its life can be replaced with something more efficient. A good planned maintenance plan shows when those moments come, so the improvement is planned rather than bolted on.
3. Will it suit the building?
Older and traditional buildings need particular care. Insulation in the wrong place, or materials that stop a solid wall breathing, can cause damp and decay. That is why the building has to be understood before it is altered.
Where to start
Start with a survey that records both condition and energy performance, then build the improvements into the maintenance plan. See our building surveys, and a ten year plan for a Grade II listed watermill complex.