MEES for non domestic property: EPC band E explained
Summary. Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) set a minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating for most privately rented non domestic property. If you are selling or letting, plan the EPC early and focus on evidence quality and scope definition to avoid last minute delays.
Scope note. This article covers MEES for privately rented non domestic property in England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have different regimes.
For privately rented non domestic property in England and Wales, MEES sets a minimum EPC rating of E. Since 1 April 2023, this requirement applies to all privately rented non domestic properties unless a valid exemption is registered. Since 1 April 2018 it has applied to new tenancies and to extensions or renewals.
If you need an EPC for a transaction or a lease event, see our https://kjtait.com/projects/specialism/epc/commercial EPC assessor service.
EPCs are required for business premises when you rent out or sell the premises, when a building under construction is finished and in some cases where changes to the number of parts used for separate occupation involve providing or extending fixed heating, air conditioning or mechanical ventilation systems.
These trigger points often align with marketing and lease deadlines. Delays are commonly caused by access, multi let coordination and incomplete O&M information rather than the modelling itself.
GOV.UK landlord guidance states that since 1 April 2018, landlords of non domestic rented properties have only been permitted to grant a new tenancy or to extend or renew an existing tenancy if their property has at least an EPC E rating unless they have registered a valid exemption.
The same guidance states that from 1 April 2023, the requirement for non domestic landlords to obtain at least an EPC E rating unless they have registered a valid exemption applies to all privately rented non domestic properties even where there has been no change in tenancy.
The MEES regulations apply to privately rented non domestic properties that are legally required to have an EPC. GOV.UK notes that if a property has been marketed for sale or let or modified in the past 10 years, it will probably be legally required to have an EPC.
GOV.UK also notes that some tenancy types are outside scope, including certain very short leases and very long leases. If you are unsure, treat the building as in scope until confirmed, as the compliance risk sits with the landlord.
Start with the basics: the EPC rating, the issue date and whether the certificate still reflects the building configuration and lease demise being marketed or let. GOV.UK states that EPCs are valid for 10 years.
A valid EPC is not always a useful EPC if it no longer represents the building being transacted. This is most common where tenant fit outs have changed, services have been altered or key evidence is missing.
Our approach to commercial EPCs focuses on the evidence that materially affects the result and makes assumptions explicit, so the EPC record is easier to rely on during marketing and legal review. See our https://kjtait.com/projects/specialism/epc/EPC assessment and lodgement service.
If the EPC is F or G, there are two practical routes:
EPCs are a transaction document. If you have a marketing date, commission the EPC early enough to avoid programme impact. Delays are commonly caused by access, multi let coordination and incomplete O&M information.
EPC scope depends on what is being assessed and which fixed services are included. Unclear landlord and tenant boundaries can lead to default assumptions. Where access is constrained, record what evidence is missing and what assumptions have been used so decisions are transparent.
Missing O&M data, control descriptions and plant information can materially affect confidence in the EPC inputs. This often becomes visible late, during enquiries from tenants, agents, lenders or solicitors. The earlier you assemble the evidence, the lower the rework risk.
Many landlords are planning beyond band E because policy direction has indicated a tightening trajectory for non domestic rented buildings, including proposals that point towards EPC B by 2030. This should be treated as a planning assumption rather than a fixed legal deadline, and it should be reviewed as policy updates are published.
In practice, improving an EPC is rarely a single change. It is typically a planned sequence of measures aligned with replacement cycles, lease events and constraints such as electrical capacity and access. Where you need a structured route, see our https://kjtait.com/projects/specialism/epc-b-pathways/EPC B Pathway service.
If you would like an EPC fee proposal, use:
MEES is the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards regime. In England and Wales it sets a minimum EPC rating for most privately rented non domestic property, currently EPC band E unless a valid exemption is registered.
GOV.UK landlord guidance states the requirement applied to new tenancies and to extensions or renewals from 1 April 2018, and it applies to all privately rented non domestic properties from 1 April 2023 unless a valid exemption is registered.
MEES applies to most privately rented non domestic properties that are legally required to have an EPC. Some tenancy types are outside scope. If you are unsure, start by checking whether the property is legally required to have an EPC and review the tenancy terms.
GOV.UK states you must have an EPC if you rent out or sell the premises, when a building under construction is finished, and where changes to separate occupation involve fixed heating, air conditioning or mechanical ventilation.
Not necessarily. GOV.UK states that EPCs are valid for 10 years. However, you may need a new EPC if the existing certificate no longer reflects the building configuration being marketed or let, or if the relevant trigger points apply.
Under MEES, the practical routes are to improve the building to at least EPC band E, or to register a valid exemption where permitted. Plan early, because access, evidence capture and coordination often drive programme.
We typically ask for the building address, approximate floor area, building use, tenancy arrangement, target date and any existing EPC report reference number. Drawings and an O&M index help reduce assumptions and programme risk.
https://kjtait.com/projects/specialism/epc/Speak to a commercial EPC assessor