Commercial EPC Advisory

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Our best-in-class EPC advisory service is re-shaping the market.

We provide professional guidance grounded in deep commercial asset management expertise.

We’re re-defining EPC advice with precision, transparency and strategic insight, helping you make decisions that actually drive value.

The EPC assessment process has historically suffered from a poor reputation, with inconsistent results and unreliable advice.

We recognised a major opportunity to reshape the market by providing professional guidance grounded in deep commercial asset management expertise.

That’s where Hollen+ comes in.

We’re redefining EPC assessments with precision, transparency and strategic insight, helping you make decisions that actually drive value. 

  • We painstakingly find as many accurate “actual” values as possible. This leads to better baseline EPC ratings.

  • We do not solely rely on defaults as many assessors do, as these lead to significantly poorer ratings, as we demonstrate here. This can cost clients huge sums through unnecessary building upgrades.

  • Our professional, best-in-class approach maximises the EPC rating for the existing building, thereby either removing entirely, or minimising the costs of any improvements needed.

  • We have successfully achieved EPC B’s where previous assessments have been as low as EPC D, without works being undertaken.

  • Where building improvements are required, we utilise our extensive asset management experience to deliver the most cost-effective solutions to reach the required target, thereby maximising returns.

  • We understand costs, and we understand that wasting CAPEX on unnecessary building improvements damages returns.

  • We protect our clients investments, rather than jeopardise them.

12x Typical EPC Advisory Scenarios

    • We achieve EPC improvements in over 95% of the work we do. 

    • Our rigorous approach secures better rating bands, which in turn improves viability, helping our clients remove upgrade CAPEX from cashflows, avoid disruption from works, achieve higher rents, reduce void periods and improve total returns.

    • Our best in class approach ensures every building or portfolio we work on has a clear, costed pathway to the required target, ensuring MEES compliance. 

    • Hollen+ works with the natural lifecycle of the building, to focus on commercially sensible upgrades. 

    • We use our asset management expertise to find the most cost-effective and least disruptive solutions. 

    • A lease expiry provides the perfect opportunity for both owners and occupiers to look to improve their demise / building. 

    • We help owners deliver creative lease renewals by investing into their assets, providing solutions to ensure the demise meets the needs of the occupier and is future proofed for MEES compliance.

    • Rather than give away rent free or concede on rental levels, we help owners deliver creative lease re-gears by investing into their assets, future proofing and improving liquidity, which in turn adds value. 

    • Buildings with higher EPC ratings are more likely to let, achieve better rents and have shorter void periods. 

    • Hollen+ undertakes EPC renewals to maximise the rating of the unit as is, without CAPEX being spent. 

    • We undertake due diligence during the acquisition process to provide our clients with clarity and certainty on the existing rating, enabling them to allocate sufficient capital for any building upgrades required.

  • Lenders are increasingly requiring buildings to either achieve a minimum EPC level now, or have a clear building upgrade strategy in place.

    Lenders are willing to reduce the cost of borrowing to reflect their reduced risk, for the borrowers able to provide this strategy.  

    Buildings which don’t have this in place will face higher borrowing costs to reflect the additional risk.

    • For disposals, we update EPC’s, to ensure it is the highest possible rating, helping achieve maximum sale price.  This allows purchasers to remove risk CAPEX allocated against building upgrades, often resulting in higher bids. 

    • For those looking to reach NET ZERO, we provide detailed pathways, aligning our advice with the natural lifecycle of the building and its systems, to ensure CAPEX is only spent at logical, sensible points. 

    • Most leases contain clauses obligating the tenant not to make any changes which negatively impact the EPC rating. 

    • Hollen+ can act as an intermediary, providing advice to the tenant on any changes to design and specifications needed, to ensure lease compliance. 

    • Hollen+ advises owners on how they should require capital contributions are spent, to achieve  the greatest commercial benefit for the asset. 

    • We work with design teams to ensure the planned development meets the required target. 

    • We provide detailed advice on specification changes which would improve the final rating. 

Energy Performance Certificates are often treated as a simple compliance task. At Hollen+, we see them as a critical part of asset management. A well-executed EPC can unlock cost savings, reduce regulatory risk, and add rental and capital value to your property.

Too often, EPC assessments are carried out by assessors with limited experience and little understanding of commercial property. This leads to inconsistent ratings, poor advice, and missed opportunities. Inaccurate or generic assessments can cost landlords and investors far more in the long run through unnecessary upgrades or future non-compliance.

Hollen+ brings a different approach. We combine deep technical knowledge with extensive asset management expertise. Crucially, our team understands how to align EPC strategy with your investment goals.

Rather than delivering a report with generic recommendations, we provide clear, tailored advice.

We identify the most cost-effective improvements, help you prioritise upgrades, and prepare your assets for incoming regulatory changes. This ensures you stay ahead of compliance issues while avoiding wasteful spending.

Our clients rely on us not just to meet current standards, but to future-proof their assets. With sustainability and energy efficiency now central to property value and investor expectations, professional EPC advice is no longer optional.

At Hollen+, we turn a regulatory requirement into a strategic advantage. We help you make smarter decisions that protect and enhance your assets and portfolio for the long term.

FAQs

    • A Commercial EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) rates the energy efficiency of a non-domestic building from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). It is legally required when selling, renting, or constructing a commercial property in the UK. It helps prospective buyers and tenants understand the building's energy performance.

    • We achieve EPC improvements in over 95% of the work we do. 

    • Our rigorous approach secures better rating bands, which in turn improves viability, helping our clients remove upgrade CAPEX from cashflows, avoid disruption from works, achieve higher rents, reduce void periods and improve total returns.

  • You need an EPC if you're:

    • Selling or renting out a commercial building

    • Constructing a new commercial building

    • Making significant modifications that affect heating, ventilation, or energy use

  • MEES (Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards) regulations prohibit landlords from letting commercial properties with an EPC rating below E.

    As of April 2023, it is illegal to continue letting commercial buildings rated F or G unless an exemption is registered.

    Key MEES facts:

    • Applies to new leases and existing leases

    • Exemptions must be registered on the PRS Exemptions Register

    • EPC improvements may be required to continue leasing

  • Only qualified and accredited non-domestic energy assessors registered with a government-approved accreditation scheme can produce Commercial EPCs.

  • The report includes:

    • The EPC rating (A-G)

    • Estimated energy use and carbon emissions

    • Recommendations for improving energy efficiency

    • Technical details about the building's energy systems

    Depending upon the situation, we also offer detailed building upgrade strategies to pinpoint the most cost effective upgrade options available, delivered through our asset management mindset.

  • A Commercial EPC is valid for 10 years, unless significant changes are made to the building that affect energy performance.

  • The cost of a commercial EPC varies depending on the size, complexity, and location of the property.

    Please contact us for a tailored quote aligned to your goals.

  • The fines depend on the building’s rateable value:

    • Letting a non-compliant building for < 3 months:
      10% of rateable value (min £5,000, max £50,000)

    • Letting a non-compliant building for > 3 months:
      20% of rateable value (min £10,000, max £150,000)

    • Failing to supply an EPC:
      Fixed penalty of £500 to £5,000

    • Registering false exemption info:
      Up to £5,000

  • All non-domestic buildings including:

    • Offices

    • Retail stores

    • Warehouses

    • Hotels

    • Pubs and restaurants

    • Industrial units
      Some exceptions apply (see below).

  • Yes. Exemptions include:

    • Temporary buildings used for 2 years or less

    • Places of worship

    • Standalone buildings < 50m² not used for dwelling

    • Listed buildings where improvements would alter character

    • Buildings due to be demolished with evidence

    Contact us to discuss exemption requirements and how to register an exemption.

  • No. The EPC must be commissioned before marketing and provided to prospective buyers or tenants at the earliest opportunity.

  • You can search for your EPC by address or certificate number via the official gov.uk EPC Register.

  • A Level 5 EPC is required for complex buildings with advanced architectural or mechanical features like:

    • Atriums

    • Automatic blind systems

    • Advanced ventilation/AC systems
      These assessments require dynamic simulation modelling (DSM) rather than the simpler SBEM used in Levels 3–4.

    • Level 3–4 use SBEM (Simplified Building Energy Model)

    • Level 5 uses DSM to assess intricate energy behaviour over time
      Only Level 5-accredited assessors can produce these certificates.

  • An EPC A+ rating is the highest possible grade on a commercial Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).

    It shows that a building has zero or even negative carbon emissions, meaning it either consumes no more energy than it produces or actively generates surplus renewable energy.

    To achieve an A+ EPC, a building must go beyond standard efficiency measures (like insulation, efficient lighting, and HVAC systems) and incorporate on-site renewable energy technologies such as solar panels or wind turbines.

    In many cases, surplus clean energy is exported back to the grid, which offsets remaining energy use and reduces the overall carbon footprint below zero.

    In summary, an EPC A+ rating means the building is net-zero carbon or better, combining excellent efficiency with renewable generation.

Let’s talk…

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