Sustainability

Question 1

What RICS written guidance is there?

Answer 1

The RICS sustainability report 2022

Sustainability and ESG in commercial property valuation

Question 2

Where is the government’s commitment to the net zero

Answer 2

The Climate Change Act 2008
Net zero by 2050 (reduce to 1990 emissions level)

Question 3

How is the RICS helping introduce sustainability in practice?

Answer 3

XX

Question 4

What is BREEAM and how is it assessed?

Answer 4

• A voluntary environmental assessment tool to rate new and refurbished buildings
• The buildings impact is rated with reference to energy consumption water use transport links waste management and health and well-being
• Five ratings are pass good very good excellent outstanding

Question 5

What is MEES and how is it assessed?

Answer 5

Minimum energy efficiency standards 2015
An EPC rating of E to let residential and commercial buildings
Potentially E to C by 2027

Question 6

What is part L building regulations?

Answer 6

XXX

Question 7

Gresb?

Answer 7

XXX

Question 8

When are EPC’s required?

Answer 8

Required for all buildings when leased or sold
(NEW BUIDLINGS)
When a building is newly refurbished
Commissioned within seven days of the commencement of marketing with 28 day procurement

Question 9

How long is an EPC valid for?

Answer 9

10 years unless the building is altered

Question 10

What are exceptions to MEES / When do you not require an
EPC? P47

Answer 10

• The place of worship
• Industrial units or workshops with low energy demand
• Where the tenancy is less than six months with no security of tenure
• stand-alone buildings with total useful floor space of less than 50 square metres
• Where a tenancy is for more than 99 years
• When improvements would devalue the property by more than 5%
• Exemptions must be registered

Question 11

EPCs are required for marketing what are the penalties for
non compliance?

Answer 11

Policed by the local authority (trading and standards team)

Residential - £200 fixed penalty
Commercial – Maximum 12.5% of RV (Min £500 max £5,000)

Question 12

What happens if you do not comply with MEES?

Answer 12

Policed by the local authority

Commercial
A Breach lasting less than 3 months
£5000 or 10% of RV (whichever greater)
Max £50,000

Breach more than 3 months
£10,000 or 20% of RV (whichever greater)
Max £150,000

Residential
A Breach lasting less than 3 months
£2,000
Breach more than 3 months
£4,000

Question 13

What are the recent changes to MEES?

Answer 13

All commercial buildings with existing leases now require a minimum EPC rating of Level E from 1st April 2023.

Question 14

What are you firms CSR objectives?

Answer 14

Have a Sustainability and CSR working group

9 of the UN sustainable development goals (gender equality/clean energy)