The Scottish government has published new guidance relating to the energy performance of non-domestic buildings…
The Scottish government has published the first batch of technical guidance notes on the Energy Performance of Non-domestic Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2016. The document is now available to view on the Scottish government’s website.
The guidance precedes new measures set to come into force on 1 September 2016 that requires owners of building stock built before 2002 in Scotland to improve energy performance prior to sale or lease.
Obligations set out in the regulations must be enacted in the event of a sale or lease of a non-domestic building or “building units” with a floor area greater than 1,000 sq m. Building units are parts of buildings designed or altered to be used separately.
What the obligations include
The owner must create an “action plan” prior to lease or sale of a building. This must be available to prospective buyers or tenants. While the regulations do not mean the owner must improve the energy performance before selling or letting, the guide states “owners may wish to do so as part of preparation for marketing”.
The action plan will be prepared by section 63 advisors following a building assessment. Any areas identified as requiring improvement must be set out in the action plan.
Exemptions
Among the properties exempt from the regulations is buildings constructed after the 2002 building standards and pre-2002 properties that have already been brought up to recent energy standards. Temporary buildings that will be used for less than two years; workshops and non-residential agricultural buildings with low energy demands; and properties improved under the Green Deal are also exempt.
Property owners that fail to follow the guidance could see a penalty charge of £1,000 levied at them by local authorities, who will be responsible for enforcement.
Additional documentation is expected to be published following this initial guidance, including an “evolving FAQ sheet” in the coming weeks. The government said it wanted to publish the guidance early to give the property sector at several months to get up to speed with the new regulations.
For more details on the regulations visit here: http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0050/00500639.pdf
