Request a callback
  • We provide support to over 500 businesses for energy and carbon management

MEES: One year to go

There’s less than one year to go until the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) kick in for all non-domestic landlords in England and Wales. Recent research has found that nearly a fifth of all commercial rental properties in England and Wales do not yet meet statutory minimum energy efficiency standards, risking financial penalties for non-compliance or being prohibited from renting out the properties.

Additional research published recently has also found that many building energy ratings may be inaccurate: properties must carry a D or E rating to meet MEES, yet 33% of buildings previously carrying a D or E rating have dropped into an F or G-rating post-analysis, falling short of the forthcoming regulations.

So, what do MEES mean for the commercial property sector, and what should landlords be doing now to prepare for April 2018?

The new energy efficiency regulations mean that from April 2018 it will be unlawful for any residential or business premise to be rented out which do not meet a minimum E energy performance certificate (EPC) rating (F and G graded EPC buildings cannot be rented and will need to improve to E or less). Under the MEES legislation, landlords can be subject to charges of up to £160,000 per property unless steps are taken to bring their properties up to standard.

With MEES just 12 months away, Inenco are advising all landlords, property managers and agents to act now and check their EPC rating to ensure their properties are not at risk of large fines and leasing restrictions.

At Inenco’s recent ‘Retail & Property Energy Forum’, Head of Property Ben Rouncefield-Swales shared a 12-month compliance action plan for MEES, detailing some key steps for all landlords to take to ensure they are ready for the new regulations. The process begins with understanding a portfolio to identify and prioritise impacted assets, but Ben’s guide includes examples of improvements and paybacks, exclusions and exemptions, enforcement and fines, the benefits of MEES and more. You can click here to download the full presentation.

Inenco’s dedicated property team have unrivalled experience and expertise in the sector. We understand that complying with an increasing number of regulations is adding extra pressure on property owners and managing agents. We can help. We’ll support you in creating a strategy to improve energy efficiency across your portfolio, from implementing new measures to meeting MEES.

You can also read the guide from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) on the non-domestic private rented property minimum standard, click here.

To speak to a property sector expert about implementing new measures to meet MEES, please call 08451 46 36 26 or request a call back.

Sustainable Energy First, has acquired Inenco.


The acquisition brings together two businesses with one common objective;
to make truly renewable
energy more accessible to businesses of all sizes helping them achieve their Net Zero targets.

If you need to access the Inenco website, you can press Esc or close this box and navigate to the page you need.
To find out more about this acquisition please click the button below.