Test BREEAM certification potential before committing to a public rating
Sustainalytica’s BREEAM In-Use Quick Scan gives investors, asset managers and owners an independent, senior-led view of an operational asset’s likely certification potential.
Before commissioning a full assessment, or placing a BREEAM rating in the public domain, we test the factors that determine whether certification is commercially sensible: likely performance, minimum-requirements risk, evidence readiness, management arrangements and the investment required to improve the outcome.
When a Quick Scan is the right first step
A BREEAM In-Use Quick Scan is designed for situations where informed judgement matters, but the available information is incomplete or the right next step is not yet clear.
Acquisition and transaction due diligence
Understand the likely BREEAM position of an asset before completion. We review the information available during due diligence, identify the key uncertainties and set out the evidence, operational actions or investment that may be required after acquisition.
Before a public certification outcome
BREEAM certification provides an independently verified, market-facing statement of performance. A Quick Scan helps clients understand the likely outcome before committing an asset to formal certification.
New asset types or markets
Test whether certification is likely to be practical for a new property subtype, country or operating model, before assuming that an approach successful elsewhere in the portfolio can simply be repeated.
Independent assurance
Obtain an objective review where an internal team, vendor or incumbent adviser has indicated a likely rating, but the evidence base, scope or delivery risk requires further scrutiny.
Certification is public. Preparation should be private.
A BREEAM In-Use certificate can strengthen occupier marketing, ESG reporting and investor confidence. It can also create a public benchmark against which an asset may be judged.
The purpose of a Quick Scan is not to avoid transparency. It is to ensure that certification is approached with a realistic understanding of the likely result, the risks to the intended rating and the actions needed to support a credible market position.
We provide a clear recommendation:
-
proceed directly to BREEAM In-Use Assessment & Certification;
-
undertake a full pre-assessment and improvement plan;
-
investigate specific issues before committing;
-
incorporate actions into planned refurbishment or asset management; or
-
defer certification where the current evidence, timing or likely outcome does not support the investment case.
A focused BREEAM In-Use review of the issues that determine readiness
Every asset is different. Our Quick Scan is tailored to the information available and the client’s decision, but typically considers:
Scheme, scope and certification boundary
We establish the likely applicable BREEAM route, assessment Parts, certifiable floor area, jurisdictional considerations and landlord, tenant and managing-agent responsibilities.
Rating and minimum-requirements risk
We identify the asset’s probable BREEAM position and test the requirements that can prevent a target rating even where enough weighted credits appear available.
Evidence readiness
We review the quality and availability of key information, including building services records, energy and water data, maintenance documentation, policies, surveys, waste arrangements and management procedures.
Building performance and operations
Our architectural and operational understanding allows us to distinguish between a genuine performance constraint, an evidence gap, an incomplete management process and an existing measure that has not yet been recognised.
Improvement opportunities
We identify the most relevant evidence-led, operational, planned-works and capital-investment opportunities, without assuming that capital expenditure is the default answer.
Investment and portfolio context
Where relevant, we consider the asset’s holding period, refurbishment strategy, GRESB objectives, target market position and relevance to a wider certification programme.
A clear recommendation before you commit to full assessment.
The Quick Scan produces a concise, decision-ready report for investment, asset-management and ESG teams.
It includes:
-
an indicative, non-certified view of likely BREEAM In-Use potential;
-
the principal constraints to the intended rating;
-
a minimum-requirements register;
-
an evidence-readiness review;
-
priority opportunities and issues requiring further investigation;
-
a clear distinction between evidence, operational and capital-investment actions;
-
responsibility considerations across landlord, tenant, property-management and facilities-management teams; and
-
a recommended route to certification, improvement or further review.
The output is designed to reduce avoidable abortive cost and give clients confidence in the next decision.
How the Quick Scan differs from a full BREEAM pre-assessment
A Quick Scan is a focused expert review, based on the agreed information available at the time. It is particularly valuable where a transaction is live, evidence is partial or the client needs an early independent view.
It is not a certified rating, a replacement for a full BREEAM In-Use assessment or a guarantee of a final outcome. Formal certification remains subject to complete compliant evidence, assessor verification, site review where required and independent certification-body quality assurance.
Where an asset is ready to proceed, we can move directly into full assessment and certification. A Quick Scan is never a compulsory preliminary stage.
From an individual asset to a portfolio strategy
A Quick Scan is designed for one asset requiring deeper analysis. Where the decision concerns a broader portfolio, Sustainalytica can help clients select and sequence the assets where BREEAM certification will create the greatest value.
For qualifying portfolios seeking a formal, long-term multi-asset arrangement, we can also assess whether the BREEAM In-Use Volume Approach is suitable.
Independent BREEAM expertise, aligned to the investment decision.
Sustainalytica combines licensed BREEAM In-Use delivery with architectural, building-operations, GRESB and institutional real-estate experience.
Our senior-led model gives clients direct access to the people responsible for the technical judgement. We understand that certification is not an end in itself: it must support the asset’s commercial position, investment strategy and long-term performance.
Our experience includes:
-
leadership of large-scale international BREEAM certification programmes;
-
BREEAM strategy and implementation across European National Scheme Operator markets;
-
more than £10bn of real estate covered through GRESB programme delivery; and
-
detailed architectural and operational understanding of existing buildings.
Frequently asked questions
- 01
- 02
- 03
- 04
- 05