Don’t get stung by the MEES

Is your property energy efficient yet?  If not, it might be time to start getting it into shape before the new MEES regulations start to bite.

One key measure of the new legislation is a requirement that the landlord of a property ensures that it reaches a minimum energy efficiency standard before it can be let.

So where the property is sub-standard because of it’s energy performance, a new tenancy will not be able to be granted, nor an existing tenancy extended or renewed on a non-domestic private rented property, after 1st April 2018.

Landlords will also be prevented from continuing to let under an existing tenancy after 1^st April 2023 unless the property reaches the required energy efficiency standards.

These new regulations are contained in The Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/962) (known as the MEES Regulations 2015) and were passed into law last year.

Under the current legislation the minimum energy efficiency would be a ‘Band E’ Energy Performance Certificate, but this may change in the future if higher standards are imposed.

The rules do not yet apply to the domestic PRS but we expect the sector to be included soon. Fines for non compliance up to £150,000 can be imposed.

For further information see the legislation at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2015/9780111128350 or contact Shakeel Butt.