BREEAM In-Use v6: What Changed, What We Learned, and What Comes Next

As we reach the final years of BREEAM In-Use (BIU) v6 - and with the BRE expected to begin work on version 7 in 2026 - this feels like the right time to pause and reflect. We’ve delivered and advised on thousands of assessments across markets and asset types. Here are our insights, and how we’re responding to keep value at the centre of certification.

From Post-COVID Surge to a Consolidated “Default”

The past years have taken us from a post-COVID growth spurt to a steadier phase of consolidation. Owners and managers still want a credible, global certification scheme; they’re simply more targeted about where and why they certify. In our opinion, that’s helped BIU, not hurt it. Based on GRESB reporting data and what we see across portfolios, BIU has become the leading operational building certification for investors who need comparability across geographies and asset types. The reasons are pragmatic:

• Portfolio scalability: BIU’s modular structure (Parts 1 and 2) scales cleanly across mixed portfolios, with scope flexibility according to asset classes.

• Cost-effectiveness: It has some of the lowest third-party fees, and methodologies such as the volume approach allow us to translate those efficiencies into our fees too.

• GRESB fit: It’s an excellent fit for GRESB. Global, robust and fully recognised. Stakeholders can stay at easy knowing that BIU is not going anywhere.

In short, BIU isn’t just a badge; it has become part of the reporting infrastructure.

Finance as the deciding factor

With limited budget for sustainability, investors and managers now ask sharper questions: “what will this cost, what will it save, and how does it protect asset value?”. That’s a healthy shift. Chasing points without a payback no longer cuts it.

We use BIU as both a baseline and a benchmark for best-practice sustainability features in operational buildings, and to guide clients on how to improve their assets. Thanks to its holistic scope and regular updates, it’s a powerful way to understand what is technically and economically feasible today, and how those implementations vary across different asset classes. Combined with our assessors’ knowledge of each building, this enables us to develop realistic, meaningful CAPEX plans.

Evidence Expectations Tightened - Within v6 Itself

One of the biggest shifts under v6 has been stricter expectations for evidence. Guidance on certain credits has been clarified, and BRE’s quality-assurance (QA) reviewers are asking for more robust evidence and stronger traceability. In practice, assets recertifying under the same version should not take their previous score for granted - particularly if no further improvements have been implemented in the past three years. In addition, not every credit is reviewed in every submission; that sampling can lead to unexpected QA comments on credits previously assumed (mistakenly) to be compliant. Overall, this reinforces the need for better systems to manage building data and documentation efficiently.

How We’re Responding: A BIU Platform Built for efficiency

With this in mind, we have been developing a proprietary BREEAM In-Use management platform to run assessments more effectively across entire portfolios. The goal is simple: give clients a smoother experience, hold assessor fees in check by delivering efficiently, and free up effort for optimisation rather than redundant tasks.

What it does:

• Centralised evidence library mapped to each assessment and credit-by-credit requirements, with version control and source traceability. After the assessment, you’ll be able to download all evidence used, categorised by credit, simply with one click.
• Portfolio dashboards that allow real time tracking of your BIU projects with us, with statistics and benchmarking. It also includes all your track history with BIU v6, notifying you of when your certifications are about to expire.
• Assessor workflow integration so clarifications, comments, and re-submissions happen in-platform, reducing email drift and rework.
• Cross-collaboration with all key staff required for a successful outcome. AMs, PMs, FMs, the platform is prepared to enable all parties to work together.
• Optimisation scenarios with cost, timeline, and implementation guidelines, ranked by impact on BIU outcomes and cost-efficiency.

Longevity Partners’ BIU Platform is launching on 30 September 2025. It is designed to give clients a tidier process, cleaner evidence management, and real-time oversight - making certification simpler and more value-driven. If you’re considering any certifications for the end of the year or planning the work for 2026, contact us at ecc@longevity.co.uk.