An existing report date, change in building management or missing handover documents can prompt an enquiry. Adding units also makes the equipment list worth reviewing. The correct scope follows the system and its control, rather than assuming each wall-mounted unit is an entirely separate requirement.
What the work can include
We establish the available equipment and report information, clarify the inspection requirement and arrange the appropriate accredited energy assessor. The visit and records review address the air-conditioning system, controls and opportunities to improve energy performance.
The output is the assessor's inspection documentation, with recommendations that the owner or operator can review. Further servicing, repairs or installation changes need their own agreement. This keeps the inspection fee and any improvement work clear when you compare proposals or authorise spending.
What the inspection tells you
TM44 work assesses energy performance and operating opportunities. It does not certify that every component is fault-free or replace refrigerant leak checks. Keep the inspection report alongside the servicing history, with separate dates for the tasks the property needs.
Provide cooling capacity information, not simply the electrical input of the equipment. Where landlords and tenants control different systems, establish those arrangements before deciding which units belong in the inspection. A report for one occupier's equipment should not be assumed to cover the landlord's installation as well.
Assessment and preparation
Send the address, property use, equipment details and any earlier inspection report. Photographs of accessible labels can help identify units, but do not open equipment to obtain them. Explain who owns and operates the air conditioning and whether any units have been added or removed.
Arrange entry to the areas served and to plant locations through the correct owner or occupier. Provide a contact who understands opening hours, control settings and complaints about operation. In a rented property, agree who receives the report and who decides whether recommendations become further work.
How the work proceeds
We clarify the property and system boundary, identify missing information and coordinate the assessor's appointment. You receive an agreed inspection scope before the visit, including access and records needed from other parties.
The assessor's findings are handed over with the completed documentation. Review the recommendations against how the property is actually used: an operating-hours adjustment has a different cost and approval route from replacing equipment. Retain the report and subsequent work records so the next owner or manager can understand the inspection history.
Cost, timing and disruption
The number and arrangement of systems, property size, records and access influence the work. An inaccessible outdoor unit or a system serving several separately occupied areas can require more coordination than a straightforward single-business property.
Agree who will attend, supply keys and explain the controls. The assessment is distinct from a repair shutdown, but building access and any adjustments still need coordination with users. Pricing should make the inspection and report clear, with any additional survey, servicing or remedial instruction separately identified.
Sector applications
Managing agents need the correct operator and property scope identified. Retail premises need equipment additions and trading hours included. Hospitality premises need the areas served and varied patterns of use explained to the assessor.
These are examples within the full sector range. Our service and project offering serves those sectors, with the inspection requirement established for the particular property and installation.
Locations covered
We cover Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham and Tees Valley, including Berwick-upon-Tweed, Alnwick, Morpeth, Hexham, Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, Sunderland, Durham, Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees and Redcar and Cleveland. View all locations.
Include the complete address and the contact arranging entry. If several properties are involved, supply separate equipment and report information for each so responsibilities remain clear.
Frequently asked questions
Do small split units count towards the inspection requirement?
They can. The combined effective rated output and control of units within a building matter. Provide the full list before deciding the property falls below the threshold.
Who performs the energy inspection?
An accredited air-conditioning energy assessor performs the inspection. The appointment must cover the actual system; a routine service engineer's attendance is a different task.
What if the previous operator did not pass on a report?
Raise this when enquiring. Government guidance requires inspection within three months when control passes to a new operator without the previous inspection report. Establish the handover date and available records promptly.
Must every recommendation become a replacement job?
No. Recommendations can concern controls, operation or further assessment as well as equipment. Review the actual finding and scope before approving a replacement.
Guides and practical reading
Read How Often Should Air Conditioning Be Serviced? and What Is an HVAC Maintenance Contract?. The Knowledge Centre explains related property maintenance decisions.
Related services and enquiry
Explore HVAC and Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, F-Gas Compliance, Statutory Maintenance and Building Services Upgrades. See all services, maintenance, projects, sectors and locations.
Contact Black & White Property Services with the address, available report, equipment information and owner or operator contact. We establish the inspection scope and practical next step.