Commissioning a GEAK: scope, preparation and costs
An energy certificate and renovation advice serve different purposes. A clear brief lets you compare offers without calculating energy-performance indicators yourself.
Which product fits the brief?
GEAK describes a building’s energy condition. GEAK Plus adds an advisory report with renovation options. A new building is initially assessed using design values; confirmation after completion is a separate stage.
| Brief | What to check |
|---|---|
| GEAK | Assessment and official certificate |
| GEAK Plus | Advisory report, options and discussion |
| New building | Distinguish provisional assessment from confirmation |
| Update | Existing records and changes to the building |
Clarify the building and commissioning
Homes, offices, schools and certain hotel, retail or restaurant uses can be assessed through GEAK. Other uses need a professional suitability check. An enquiry about an industrial building does not automatically mean an official GEAK can be issued.
Official certificates are issued by certified experts commissioned by the building owner. In shared ownership, coordinate responsibility and access to the relevant building areas; assessing one room does not replace a building assessment.
Useful preparation documents
Existing plans, past renovation details and heating and hot-water records help the survey. Consumption bills covering several years can support the assessment. Explain missing records rather than inventing figures or abandoning the enquiry.
| Information | Use |
|---|---|
| Plans | Understand areas and building elements |
| Consumption | Put known energy use in context |
| Renovations | Assess current condition rather than original fittings |
| Existing certificate | Basis for a possible update |
Agree the survey and deliverables
An initial assessment includes a building visit. Arrange access to agreed rooms and services. The offer should specify who gathers data, when the certificate is delivered and whether a discussion of results is included.
For an update, the work depends on existing records and alterations. A fresh visit is not identical in every case. Let the expert determine the survey required.
Compare costs and prices meaningfully
There is no reliable single price for every building. Area, use, complexity, available data and advisory scope affect the quote. Compare the same brief: a basic certificate is not directly comparable with a comprehensive Plus report.
Check the visit, analysis, publication, discussion, VAT and extra work. A customer contribution after a grant is not the full service price. Ask for the gross price and conditions before selecting the apparently lowest figure.
Use the report to support decisions
With GEAK Plus, you should understand which measures work together and their sensible sequence. Ask about investment, operating-cost and phasing assumptions. Estimated savings do not guarantee a future bill or replace a contractor’s quotation.
Agree whether grant checks or applications are included. Programmes and deadlines vary. Support for the report does not automatically approve later building work; check application timing before a binding commission.
Understand an existing certificate
A change of owner alone does not automatically require a new certificate. Significant energy-related alterations or a change of use can affect its relevance and validity. For an update, describe completed works and prepare available records.
A good energy rating is not a full building-condition survey. The certificate does not answer every question about moisture, structure, hazardous materials or renovation costs. Commission those investigations separately when needed.
Frequently asked questions
GEAK or GEAK Plus?
A certificate may cover an assessment, depending on its purpose. GEAK Plus is the scope for renovation options and advice; required evidence must match its intended use.
Can I enquire without plans?
Yes. Explain what records exist. The expert can clarify the survey needed and any additional work.
Do I need to calculate my consumption?
No. Existing bills are more useful than personal estimates. Consumption and building data are interpreted professionally.
Is construction planning included?
The Plus report supports decisions. Detailed design, permit submissions and site management are not automatically included.
Why do prices differ?
Building scope, data and report detail change the work. Compare total prices for the same scope with explicit extras.
Does a sale require a new GEAK?
A change of owner alone does not invalidate it. Check the property’s requirements and whether building alterations call for an update.
