Make your buy-to-let rental property MEES compliant
From 1 October 2030, private rental properties in England and Wales must reach EPC C.
A BHESCo MEES Compliance Report will tell you how to achieve compliance as quickly and affordable as possible.
Jump to...
Meeting new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards
In January 2026, as part of the Warm Homes Plan, the UK Government announced that they will be introducing new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) for domestic rental properties. By 1st October 2030, all rented properties (new leases and existing tenancies) must have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of at least a C.
What does this mean for landlords?
Properties that fail to meet the new MEES regulations will be considered ineligible for rental occupancy and will become unlawful to rent. Violation of the regulations could result in a maximum penalty fine of £30,000, with penalties applied per breach and per property.
The good news is that landlords won’t be required to spend more than £10,000 (including VAT) per property to reach compliance, and any qualifying work carried out from 1 October 2025 already counts toward that cap. In practical terms, money spent now isn’t separate from your compliance budget; it’s the first part of it.
It is imperative for landlords to review their existing property portfolio, identify properties that will be non-compliant when new regulations come in, and introduce building upgrades where required. The earlier this work begins, the more of it counts toward your capped spend.
New MEES regulations for domestic rental properties
The need to act now
At BHESCo, we strongly advise landlords to begin the process immediately. Private rental properties must reach the new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard by 1 October 2030 – a single deadline that applies to both new and existing tenancies, with no earlier cut-off to plan around.
That may sound distant, but two things make early action worth it. First, because spend from 1 October 2025 already counts toward your £10,000 cap, work done now isn’t “early” in any meaningful sense. It’s simply the first stage of a budget you’ll need to spend regardless.
Second, we anticipate that demand for qualified retrofit assessors and installers will outstrip supply as the deadline draws closer, in the same pattern we’ve seen with every prior regulatory deadline in this sector. Landlords who commission their MEES Compliance Report now are securing both their place in the queue and the most cost-effective route to compliance.
Make the right improvements with a BHESCo MEES Compliance Report
Our specially designed MEES Compliance Report ensures landlords meet new regulations as quickly and cost-effectively as possible.
We have partnered with other Sussex landlords to help them get MEES compliant and we can help you too.
- Provides the detail and data you need to make the right decisions
- Identify targeted improvement to ensure MEES compliance
- Understand the most logical sequence to introduce improvements
- Expert insight on planning requirements and permitted development
- Access to our trusted network of qualified local installers
What is in a MEES Compliance Report?
Following an on-site survey from a qualified Retrofit Assessor, we will provide a short report detailing what improvements should be made, and in what order, to achieve the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard.
Our findings will be presented in an easy-to-read table, with the following metrics for each recommended upgrade:
- Cost of each improvement
- Cost of improvements (cumulative)
- Change to EPC Rating (per measure)
- Change to EPC Rating (cumulative)
- Cost of annual energy bill
Below is an example of the Summary Table provided as part of a Domestic MEES Compliance Report.
Below is an example of the Summary Table provided as part of your MEES Compliance Report.
(please tap to enlarge)
How much does it cost?
Costs shown below include an on-site survey, production of a MEES compliance report, and a post-report consultation with a BHESCo energy advisor.
PRICE TABLE
(excl VAT)
Up to 50m2
£310
51m2 to 90m2
£350
91m2 to 130m2
£395
131m2 to 170m2
£480
171m2 to 210m2
£565
Larger than 210m2
POA
SME
POA
SIZE
Up to 50m2
51m2 to 90m2
91m2 to 130m2
131m2 to 170m2
171m2 to 210m2
Larger than 210m2
SME
PRICE (excl VAT)
£310
£350
£395
£480
£565
POA
POA
PRICE (incl VAT)
£372
£420
£474
£576
£678
Why work with BHESCo
There are plenty of other companies out there who offer EPC and MEES advice, so why should you choose BHESCo?
We’re a social enterprise
Our advice and services are designed to benefit you, not to enrich our shareholders.
We’re experts
Our team have decades of experience and have supported 1,000’s of people with energy efficiency upgrades
We’re impartial
We don’t work on commission, we don’t work on sales, just honesty and transparency all the way
Let's have a chat
We’ve tried to make everything as clear as we can, but if you do have any further questions then please leave your details below and one of our energy advisors will get back to you soon.
Beyond compliance
Meeting Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards is essential, but improving the energy performance of your property portfolio will deliver far more than compliance benefits.
Higher property value
Research from The Mortgage Works (Nationwide’s buy-to-let lending division) shows that properties with an EPC rating of A or B attract a 12.2% premium in the buy-to-let market, compared to D-rated homes.
Higher rental premiums
A major UK office-market study from University College London and Nottingham Trent University found a clear “willingness to pay” for energy-efficient buildings, with EPC A and B offices achieving rental premiums of around 10–15%.
For domestic properties, an A or B rated property currently attracts an 8.1% rental premium compared to a similar D rated property.
Easier property sale
Some mortgage providers have stated that they will decline a mortgage application for properties with an EPC of F or G.
With changing MEES regulations, this is likely to soon include properties rated E and D.
Case Studies
How BHESCo helped Joe and Lisa increase the EPC of their buy-to-let rental property
Joe and Lisa are landlords of a modern, end of terrace rental property in Brighton. With the property having an EPC of D, they became concerned that they would not be able to rent the property once new MEES regulations came into force.
BHESCo were engaged to assess the property and identify cost-effective ways to improve EPC rating.
Dr Tim Beecher, BHESCo’s Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA), carried out an assessment of the home. He concluded that the property was an excellent candidate for rooftop solar power and advised that this would be the most effective way to improve EPC.
A local PV installer was recommended and the installation completed. Tim then conducted a follow-up EPC assessment, confirming the property’s rating had increased to a C.
“Tim did a very thorough and careful survey of our rental house staying sensitive to being in the domain of our four tenants. He produced a comprehensive report with recommendations on energy conservation.
He was able to recommend an excellent solar engineer who installed five panels on the roof which are functioning well. Tim then visited again to support our upgrade from an EPC D to a C-rating.”
Joe
Brighton Property Owner / Landlord
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the MEES deadline for rental properties?
Private rental properties in England and Wales must meet a Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard of EPC C (or its equivalent under reformed metrics) by 1 October 2030. This is a single deadline that applies to both new and existing tenancies.
How much could I be fined for a non-compliant property?
Local authorities can issue fines of up to £30,000 per breach, per property, for renting out a non-compliant property after the deadline.
Does the £10,000 cap include VAT?
Yes. Landlords are not required to spend more than £10,000 including VAT per property to reach compliance. If reaching EPC C would cost more than this, a lower “maximum improvement standard” applies instead.
Does money I spend now count toward the cap?
Yes. Qualifying energy efficiency work carried out from 1 October 2025 onward counts toward your £10,000 cap, even though the compliance deadline itself is 1 October 2030. Acting early doesn’t add to your budget – it just uses it sooner.
What's the difference between domestic and non-domestic MEES rules?
Domestic private rentals must reach EPC C by 1 October 2030. Non-domestic (commercial) rented buildings over 1,000m² will need to reach EPC B by 2031, while smaller commercial buildings under 1,000m² remain subject to the existing EPC E minimum standard for now.
How long does a MEES Compliance Report take?
From initial survey to final report, most landlords receive their MEES Compliance Report within 15 working days.