MEES Regulations for Landlords, Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards Explained

What Are MEES?

The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) are government regulations that set a minimum EPC rating for privately rented properties in England and Wales. They were introduced under the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015.

Current Requirements

From 1 April 2020, landlords have been prohibited from granting new tenancies of domestic properties with an EPC rating of F or G. Since 1 April 2023, this restriction has extended to **all existing tenancies**, not just new ones. A landlord cannot continue to let a property rated F or G unless a valid exemption applies.

What Is the Minimum Rating?

Currently, the minimum EPC rating for a domestic rental property is **E**. Properties rated F or G cannot lawfully be let without an exemption.

Proposed Changes: EPC C by 2030

The UK government has signalled its intention to raise the minimum standard for new tenancies to EPC C by 2030, with all tenancies required to meet EPC C by 2033. As of early 2026, these proposals have not been enacted into legislation, but landlords should plan ahead given the lead time required to improve energy efficiency.

MEES Exemptions

Landlords who cannot achieve the minimum EPC rating can register an exemption on the PRS Exemptions Register in the following circumstances:

• **All relevant improvements made:** All recommended improvements have been made but the property still cannot achieve an E rating, and the cap of £3,500 (including VAT) has been spent
• **Wall insulation exemption:** A recommended improvement would damage the fabric of the building
• **Consent exemption:** Consent from a third party (such as a freeholder or local authority for a listed building) has been refused or attached unacceptable conditions
• **Devaluation exemption:** An independent surveyor confirms the improvement would reduce the market value of the property by more than 5%
• **Temporary exemption (new landlord):** New landlords have six months' grace following acquisition

Exemptions last five years (except the temporary exemption, which lasts six months).

Penalties

Local authorities enforce MEES compliance. Penalties can reach up to **£30,000** per breach for letting in breach of MEES. The PRS Exemptions Register is a public register, it is good practice for landlords to register exemptions promptly and correctly.

Checking a Rental Property's EPC

Landlords and tenants can check a property's current EPC on the government's Find an Energy Certificate service or via Property Passport UK, which aggregates EPC data alongside other official property records. If a property has no valid EPC (EPCs are valid for 10 years), a new one must be commissioned before marketing a property for rent.

Property Passport UK makes it easy to review EPC data, assess what improvements are recommended, and understand where a property sits relative to the MEES thresholds.