Check if your property is affected
If a landlord fails to comply with the new MEES regulations, they risk a financial penalty. The penalties depend on the length of the breach:
- Less than three months in breach:
A landlord renting out a non-compliant property may be fined up to £5,000 or 10% of the rateable value (whichever is greater), capped at £50,000. - Three months or more in breach:
A landlord may be fined up to £10,000 or 20% of the rateable value (whichever is greater), capped at £150,000. - Other fines:
A fine of up to £5,000 may be issued for providing false or misleading information or failing to comply with a compliance notice.
You can check to see if an exemption is already registered and if it is an exemption type that will be cancelled. Visit the PRS Exemption Register and search using the property’s postcode:
https://prsregister.beis.gov.uk/NdsBeisUi/register-search-exemptions
Exemptions That Will Be Cancelled
If you registered any exemptions under earlier rules, they will be cancelled on 31<sup>st</sup> March 2020 and will need re-assessing.
Updated Regulation 25
The updated exemption states: “All improvements have been made and the property remains below an E.”
If you have an exemption registered on this basis, no further action is required. This exemption will last for five years from the time it was registered.
How We Can Help
We can assist landlords in:
- Running through and analysing your existing EPCs.
- Providing advice and guidance on compliance and exemption reports.
- Assessing, accessing, and facilitating relevant funding opportunities and installations such as:
- Cavity wall insulation (75% of installs fully funded)
- Loft insulation (75% of installs fully funded)
- Gas central heating installs with a gas connection, A-rated boiler, radiators, and heating controls (95% of installs fully funded).
- High heat retention electric storage heaters (30%-50% of install costs funded when replacing on-peak heaters).
- Low energy LED lights.
- Hot water cylinder jackets.
- Draught proofing.
What Are the Costs?
- EPC: £40 plus VAT
- Full MEES compliance report (with a current EPC): £109 plus VAT
- EPC + full MEES compliance report: £149 plus VAT
Additional Funding Opportunities
Currently, many privately rented properties in the BCP Council area, with a D or E EPC rating (regardless of tenant circumstances), may qualify for funding towards insulation and heating measures.
This is one example of the additional criteria that opens up funding to more tenants locally for these improvements.