Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) rate the energy efficiency of a property on a scale from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). Since 2018, the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) have prohibited landlords from letting properties with an EPC rating below E.
EPCs are valid for ten years and must be available when a property is marketed for sale or rent. Penalties for non-compliance with MEES vary based on the duration of the breach: up to £2,000 for less than three months and up to £4,000 for three months or more.
Property owners should be aware that the government has consulted on raising the minimum standard to EPC Band C for new tenancies. While timelines have shifted, the direction of travel is clear: energy efficiency requirements will become more stringent.
Custodia tracks EPC ratings and expiry dates across your portfolio, flags properties approaching the minimum standard, and helps prioritise energy efficiency improvements.