NEW MEES REQUIREMENTS
FOR LANDLORDS
SINCE APRIL 2019
WHAT IS AN EPC & WHY WERE EPCS INTRODUCED?
MINIMUM ENERGY EFFICIENCY STANDARDS (MEES) FOR LANDLORDS
POST APRIL 2019
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has confirmed that the amendments to the Energy Efficiency Regulations governing England and Wales (which took effect from 1st April 2019).
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The changes mean that landlords will be liable to pay up to £3,500 to bring F and G rated properties up to a minimum EPC rating of E. Landlords with existing ‘no cost’ registered exemptions will only remain covered by these until the end of March 2020.
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The current MEES requirements mean that landlords with properties which require an EPC cannot start new tenancies in England and Wales in properties with a rating lower than E. From April 2020, all existing tenancies which require an EPC will need to have a minimum E rating.
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The key changes from 1 April 2019 include:
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For F and G rated properties the landlord financial contribution element is capped at £3500 (inc VAT);
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Introduction of a high cost exemption which applies to properties rated F or G that cannot be improved to band E at a cost of £3,500 or less (inc VAT);
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Discontinuation of the zero cost to landlords’ exemption;
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Existing exemptions for landlords currently registered because of being unable to fund energy efficiency improvement will end on 31 March 2020; and
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Removal of the consent exemption in cases where a sitting tenant has withheld consent to a Green Deal finance plan.
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Courtesy of https://landlords.org.uk
Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are the Government’s chosen way of complying with the Energy Performance of Building Directive (EPBD). Its purpose is to record how energy efficient a property is. The certificate will provide a rating of the energy efficiency and CO2 emissions of a building from A to G, where A is very efficient and G is very inefficient.
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The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive began the implementation of EPCs throughout Europe. The Housing Act 2004 is the UK’s legislation specific to EPCs; introducing the EPC to England and Wales in August 2007, followed by Northern Ireland (June 2008) then Scotland (December 2008). EPCs are required for homes which are put up for sale or rental across the whole of the UK.
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