MEES: Changes come into force today

Wed 1 April 2020

Whilst currently the world is going through an extremely turbulent time, we must take the time to remind you that the remaining provisions of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) come into force today (1st April 2020).

The Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 established the MEES which set a minimum energy efficiency level for all domestic private rented properties in England and Wales that are required to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). Where this applies, and the property has an EPC rating of F or G, landlords must take appropriate steps to comply with the requirements of the MEES regulations. From today, the prohibition on letting properties with an EPC rating of F and G will be extended to cover all relevant properties, even where there has been no change of tenancy. Landlords with properties assessed at EPC F and G must now improve the property rating to E or register an exemption if they want to continue to let it

Whilst current legislation states that an EPC rating must be an E or above, we anticipate that legislation will be updated in time; we therefore recommend that landlords carrying out improvements look to achieve an EPC of C or above.

Removal of cost exemption
The validity of all existing exemptions registered on the basis that the landlords could not get any funding for energy efficiency improvements will end for individual properties on 31 March 2020, instead of after five years. Landlords who had registered such exemptions prior to 1 April 2019 will now be required to make improvements (up to £3,500) to ensure their properties achieve EPC E by 1 April 2020 – unless a further exemption is successfully applied for.

New funding element
Since 1 April 2019, landlords of domestic properties with an EPC rating below E must carry out up to £3,500 worth of works improving their energy efficiency even if they cannot obtain third-party funding to meet the costs. 

The £3,500 cap is an upper ceiling, not a target or a spend requirement and landlords may spend more if they wish. If a landlord can improve their property to E (or higher) for less than £3,500 then they will have met their obligation. If the upgrade to EPC E cannot be achieved for £3,500 or less, then landlords must make all the improvements that can be made up to the cost limit, and then register for an ‘all improvements made’ exemption.

Relevant improvements
The MEES Regulations refer to the concept of ‘relevant energy efficiency improvements’. This is a measure, or package of measures, recommended in the EPC report, which can be purchased and installed for £3,500 or less (including VAT) - the cost cap. Landlords can install any energy efficiency measures, but if their chosen measures are not on the government’s list of ‘recommended energy efficiency improvements’ and they fail to improve the property to EPC E, then landlords cannot let the property or register an ‘all improvements made’ exemption.

Exemptions
There are various exemptions that apply to the prohibition on letting a property with an energy efficiency rating below E. If a property meets the criteria for any of the exemptions, landlords will be able to let it once they have registered the exemption on the Private Rented Sector (PRS) Exemptions Register. 

Details on the exemptions available and how to apply can be found on the Government’s website.

For further advice, please get in touch with your local branch:
Alnwick
Hexham
Sedgefield
Northallerton