Newsflash
Mandatory Disclosure – the countdown has already begun…
It was announced by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, on 12 November 2009, that building owners who lease or sell an office space over 2000m2 will be required to comply with Mandatory Disclosure. Although no date is confirmed at this stage, it is expected that this requirement will be endorsed in the second half of 2010.
Mandatory Disclosure will require the building owner to disclose the energy efficiency of the space they are leasing or selling to the prospective tenants and buyers. It is proposed that this be in the form of a “Building Energy Efficiency Certificate” (BEEC), which will include a NABERS Office Energy star rating. Those who do not comply will more than likely be faced with a fine and/or persecution.
Although Mandatory Disclosure is not proposed to be effective until the latter part of the year, a NABERS Office Energy rating requires 12 months of continuous data of an operational and occupied building. So for those who are thinking of selling or leasing an office space over 2000m2 after July 1, 2010, you may want to consider your options now.
We, here at Ashburner Francis, have staff who are accredited NABERS assessors who are able to offer advice and complete accredited assessments (Thomas Edison Option). You may even want to consider a predicted NABERS rating (James Joule Option) for new buildings so you can anticipate how the building will perform.
We will also be able to offer BEEC assessments (Robert Bosch Option), when Mandatory Disclosure becomes, well, mandatory.
Sustainability Declaration
As of 1 January 2010, it will be compulsory for a Sustainability Declaration to be completed when selling a house, townhouse or unit in Queensland. The Sustainability Declaration form is a checklist about the building and it’s materials as well as the energy and water consumption.
See the Queensland Government Department of Infrastructure and Planning website for more information.