Sustainability

Question 1

Can you talk me through what you know about the MEES regs?

Answer 1

• MEES 2015 require a minimum EPC rating of Level E for let buildings from April 2018 onwards (new leases from 2018, then all existing leases from 2023 commercial)

Question 2

What changes are predicted for MEES?

Answer 2

• MEES will rise from an E to a C by 2027 and B by 2030.
• All let properties will require and EPC (inc listed buildings)

Question 3

If you breach MEES, what happens?

Answer 3

• Policed by local authority
• Breach of less than 3 mnths- higher of £5k or 10% of RV
• Breach of more than 3 mnths- higher of £10k or 20% of RV
• Max penalty £150k

Question 4

Please talk me through BREEAM, what is it and what do you know about it?

Answer 4

• Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method
• A voluntary environmental assessment tool to rate new and refurbished buildings
• Rated against 9 environmental weightings inc:
• Energy consumption
• Water use
• Waste management
• Health and wellbeing
• Proximity to public transport

Question 5

Do you know of other sustainability metrics besides BREEAM?

Answer 5

• I am broadly aware of WELL which is a global sustainability metric, however I’ve not encountered it in my day-to-day role.

Question 6

What RICS guidance is there on sustainability?

Answer 6

• Sustainability and Commercial Property Valuation 2013, which outlines sustainability characteristics, considerations, and risks

Question 7

What information would you find on an EPC?

Answer 7

• Address and floor area
• EPC reference number
• Technical info on the property’s energy provision
• Estimation of energy running costs
• Date
• EPC rating (A+ to G)
• Benchmarking info

Question 8

How is the UK government implementing its Net Carbon Zero Targets?

Answer 8

2019 UK government announced that it would be net carbon zero by 2050 and is set to invest £12bn in creating a ‘Green Industrial Revolution’.