Domestic Mees

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES)

After the Green Deal was initiated in the UK, both domestic and commercial properties had to make changes to their existing energy utilization technologies to make them greener. Following this, all commercial buildings in the UK (in addition to domestic buildings) under construction, or on sale or rent had to have a Non-Domestic Energy Performance Certificate (NDEPC).

ABOUT MEES REGULATIONS

Many Domestic Energy Assessors dealing with privately-rented dwellings would have noted increasing awareness of the upcoming Energy Efficiency Regulations; these are also known as the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES).

Firstly, we should be very clear that Domestic Energy Assessors are only remitted to produce a valid EPC, not necessarily to aid Landlords with any decisions they make. Landlords should take the majority of their queries to their trade associations, such as RLA.

This guide has been designed to give DEAs an overview of the Regulations to be able to help their clients with the basics of the new MEES Standards.

WHAT PROPERTIES ARE COVERED?

All privately-rented properties are under these Regulations, and these must reach a minimum EPC Rating of Band E (39 SAP points).

From 1st April 2018, Landlords will be unable to grant a new tenancy on a property which does not meet the minimum E standard. From 1st April 2020, this will extend to all tenancies. A valid Energy Performance Certificate would need to be provided to prove that the property meets the MEES minimum rating.

LISTED BUILDINGS

The regulations are applied to all privately-rented properties, however those propeties which are not required from requiring an EPC for sale or retal purposes are also not required
to meet the minimum standard.

HOWEVER

Listed buildings would need to be asssessed to ascertain if the mini mum standard will need to be applied to it. where any energy improvement recommendations cannot be implemented due to their impact on the historical or architectural merits of the property it would not need to meet hte minimum standards.
Quidos would suggest that domestic energy assessors should lodge an EPC on a listed building to see which recommendations would be made from the calculation engine. it would then be down to the landlord to determine whether the property would need to meet the standards.

PROPERTY EXEMPTIONS

In certain instances, it will be possible for a property to receive an exemption from having to meet the E-Band efficiency standard, and thus be able to be rented out.

NO COST TO LANDLORD

Prior to the release of the official guidance from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), a lot of landlords and assessors were worried about the impact that these Regulations would have.
In the immortal words of Douglas Adams, DON’T PANIC!!

Had landlords read the BEIS guidance on domestic MEES requirements, they would quickly realise that they have nothing really to worry about in terms of being able to continue to let their properties, as the guidance has given most of the power to the landlords.

The EPC recommendations only become ‘relevant’ in terms of the Regulations where there is a funding formula available, such as Green Deal, ECO etc. Where funding is not available, these recommendations do not need to be completed. Additionally, for recommendations such as external wall insulation, if the landlord can demonstrate expert advice that the recommendation is not practical for the dwelling, it too can be irrelevant for the Regulations and a five-year exemption applied for.
Below is an example from an F25 rated property:

Get Free Quote

With today’s fast paced environment, we all face different challenges when trying to keep our users happy. Our team is here to help with overcome your requirments.