After this date, it will be unlawful to renew a lease or do a new letting on any non-domestic building in England and Wales which does not have a minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating ‘E’. Properties rated F or G will become unlettable.
Importantly, owners and landlords of property with existing EPCs of E or higher, should not be complacent. Building regulations have evolved since EPCs were introduced in 2008 and the measure of energy efficiency has become stricter. It is now far more difficult to obtain a good EPC rating for a property. EPCs need to be renewed every 10 years, meaning there is a risk that properties with an existing assessment of D or E may be rated lower on reassessment. A rule of thumb is that any ratings from 2012 or before are likely to become unreliable.
Data from the DCLG shows that in Wales, just over 18,500 EPCs have been lodged on the Register to 31st December 2017 since 2008. Of these, just 2,025 fall into F and G categories. However, 9,155 are rated D or E, some of which could potentially become victim to a lower rating upon reassessment.
The most prudent course of action is to review your property stock and ensure that all rentable properties have an up-to-date EPC assessment. Where they do not meet the minimum standard of E, implement a plan to improve the energy efficiency with the help of a specialist. You can also seek advice as there are some exemptions from the regulations.
Finally, whilst the MEES regulations apply initially to the granting of new leases and lease renewals, from 1st April 2023 they will extend to all active leases. Failure to comply could make you liable for penalties up to £150,000. The new regulations are clearly a major consideration for landlords going forward.