Owners of mixed-use buildings will no longer be required to disclose their NABERS energy rating .

The Commercial Building Disclosure Program, which requires owners of more than 2,000 square meters of rentable office space to disclose their energy rating, now exempts majority of mixed-use buildings.

Property Council CEO Peter Verwer said, "This is a positive outcome for the property sector and reflects a common sense approach to public policy."

The changes to the scheme, which began on November 1, will mean that buildings such as warehouses, shopping centers, hotels and hospitals with less than 75 percent total office space, do not have to comply with the disclosure requirements. Major refurbishments will also be exempted from the scheme.

"This means that most mixed-use buildings will no longer need to secure NABERS ratings that generally produced meaningless results," Verwer said. "The Property Council does not believe mandatory disclosure should apply to mixed-use buildings that includes mixed-use premises until a fit for purpose rating tool is developed and a regulatory impact statement is undertaken."

"The government sees this change as a reprieve and will work with industry to develop new solutions for mixed-use premises," he adds.

At the Property Council's urging, the government agreed to establish an industry consultative committee to identify and work through problems with the scheme. There are also plans to make more information about the scheme readily available to property owners.