If you let a residential or commercial property in England or Wales, the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) regulations set a legal minimum energy rating you must meet. Here's what that means in practice.
The current minimum rating
Since April 2020, MEES has required all private rented properties — not just new lets — to have a minimum EPC rating of E, unless a valid exemption applies. If your property is rated F or G, you generally cannot lawfully continue letting it without either improving the rating or registering an exemption.
Fines for non-compliance
Local authorities can issue penalties of up to £5,000 per property for letting below the minimum standard without a valid exemption, and these can be published on the national PRS Exemptions Register alongside your property.
Common exemptions
Exemptions exist where, for example:
- All recommended improvements have been made but the property still doesn't reach an E, or the cost cap has been reached
- A recommended improvement isn't possible without reducing the property's market value by more than 5%
- A third party (such as a tenant or a listed building authority) refuses consent for the works
Exemptions typically need to be registered and are valid for five years, so they need renewing rather than being permanent.
What landlords should do now
- Check your current EPC rating and expiry date — remember certificates last 10 years, but MEES compliance is an ongoing obligation regardless of when the certificate was issued.
- If you're below an E, get quotes for the recommended improvements on your certificate — insulation and heating controls are usually the best value.
- If improvements aren't feasible, look into registering a valid exemption before you're challenged.
- Keep every property in a portfolio compliant, not just the one currently being re-let — enforcement isn't limited to new tenancies.
Looking ahead
Government proposals have floated raising the minimum standard for rental properties to band C in future — nothing is confirmed, but landlords with F, G, or D-rated properties may want to plan improvements sooner rather than later to avoid a scramble if the threshold rises.
Get compliant, fast
EPC Services UK provides landlord EPCs from £49, issued within 48 hours, covering Harrow, Wealdstone, Pinner, Stanmore, Wembley, Edgware and the wider London area — including support and improvement advice if your property is currently below the MEES minimum.