I know we have written about this time and time again, but this is an ongoing and very relevant topic to many of our clients. We feel it is important for regular reminders of where we should be with our let properties and where we will need to get to over the coming years.

Making some rural period properties energy efficient is extremely hard and usually costly. Planning for the future changes in the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) is needed. The standards were introduced in 2018 and as of today, in fact from the 1^st April 2020, all let residential properties must have an energy rating (Energy Performance Certificate – EPC) of E or above.

If the property does not make the grade it should be improved, or alternatively an exemption can be applied for. One reason for an exception is that the required works might just not be feasible. There is a current cap on works at £3,500, so if the planned improvements are going to cost more than this you could be eligible to register an exemption. Registered exemptions are though only temporary, lasting just five years.

The proposal – currently under consultation – is to make it a requirement to have the EPC grade up to a C or above by 2025 for any new lets, and by 2028 for existing tenancies. We let a lot of properties and very few are currently at a C grade.

The consultation also seem to be suggesting that the £3,500 cap on works will increase to £10,000.

We await confirmation from the government, but be assured that we are going to have to keep improving our energy efficiency in our let properties.

For further information on this matter please contact Richard Banks or Andrea Jordan.