From April 2018, new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) legislation will be coming into force, which means that every property must have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rated E or higher in order for it to be let. From the 1st of April 2018, all new let properties, or tenancy renewals will be subject to this legislation and will come into effect for existing tenancies from April 2020. Anyone who breaches this legislation will be liable to receive a civil penalty of up to £4000. Every EPC gives a rating and also includes a list of improvements, which if carried out, would improve the property’s Energy Performance Rating.
As with most legislation, there are some exceptions to this rule, including some listed properties, temporary buildings with a planned timed use of 2 years or less, residential buildings which are only intended to be used for 4 months of the year or less, stand alone buildings with a usable floor space of 50 sq m.
Every EPC gives a rating and also includes a list of improvements, which if carried out, would improve the property’s Energy Performance Rating.
If you’re a landlord wondering about the Energy Performance of your property, you can retrieve an Energy Performance Certificate by visiting www.epcregister.com using your postcode to see your current EPC rating and what needs to be done to improve if it is lower than an E.
Although this legislation coming into force is a year away, so there’s plenty of time to make any changes to rental properties in order that they become compliant, time goes by so quickly – so it’s well worth looking into now.
If you’re a landlord looking for a property management service, and are looking for an agent who will keep you up-to-date and look after your properties, making sure they are compliant with up-to-date legislation, then we offer comprehensive management packages. Fill in the short form on our property management page, and a member of the team will be in touch.