The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard, set by the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015. Broadly, a private rented home must have an EPC rating of at least E, unless a valid exemption is registered.

Where do I register a MEES exemption?

On the PRS Exemptions Register, which is run separately from the landlord register. The landlord register only asks whether an exemption is registered there, and what type.

My EPC is band E. Does this apply to me?

Not under the current minimum, which is E. The MEES question only applies if the rating is below the minimum level. Keep an eye on government proposals to raise the minimum standard in future.

My exemption has expired. What should I do?

Most exemptions last a set period, usually five years. If yours has expired, the property may no longer be compliant. Look at improvements or check whether a new exemption applies, and update the register within 28 days of any change.

MEES and EPC exemptions on the landlord register

Most of the register’s questions are factual: an address, a date, a number. The energy efficiency question is different. If a property’s EPC is below the minimum, it asks you to say whether you have a registered exemption, which makes a compliance gap visible to the council. This guide explains what is asked and how to prepare. It is general information, not legal advice.

What the register asks

From Schedule 3 of the draft regulations:

Situation	What you give
You had to give the current tenant a valid EPC	A copy of the most recent EPC
The most recent EPC is no longer valid	The date the current tenancy started
The EPC rating is below the minimum level of energy efficiency	Whether there is a registered MEES exemption, and if so, which type(s)

A “registered MEES exemption” means one that is registered on the PRS Exemptions Register. An exemption you believe applies, but have never registered, does not count.

MEES in brief

The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard comes from the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015. Under the current rules, a domestic private rented property generally must not be let with an EPC rating below E (so F and G are sub-standard), unless a valid exemption is registered.

The government has proposed raising the minimum standard in future. The register asks about the minimum level that applies at the time, so check the current rules when you register.

The exemption types

The PRS Exemptions Register currently has these main types of exemption. The register asks which apply.

Exemption	In brief
High cost	The cheapest recommended improvement would cost more than the cost cap
All relevant improvements made	All improvements that can be made have been made, and the property is still below E
Wall insulation	The relevant wall insulation would damage the fabric or structure of the building
Consent	Consent needed for the work (tenant, lender, freeholder, planning) was refused or given with unreasonable conditions
Devaluation	An independent surveyor says the work would reduce the property’s value by more than 5%
New landlord	A temporary exemption (6 months) for someone who has just become the landlord

Most exemptions last five years and then expire. The new landlord exemption lasts six months. Each needs supporting evidence on the PRS Exemptions Register. GOV.UK’s guidance on the domestic private rented property minimum standard has the detail.

Common problems

Exemption never registered. Landlords sometimes assume the high-cost or consent exemption applies without registering it. On the landlord register, the honest answer is then “no registered exemption”.
Expired exemption. Five-year exemptions registered in the early years of MEES may have run out. Check the dates.
Old EPC. An EPC from years ago may not reflect improvements you have made since. A new assessment might give a better rating, but the register asks for the most recent EPC, so commission a new one before you register.
EPC rating on the wrong property. Flats in the same building often have similar addresses. Make sure the EPC is for the right flat.

How to prepare

Find the most recent EPC for each property on the government EPC register
Note the rating and expiry date
For any F or G rating: check whether an exemption is registered, what type, and when it expires
If an exemption applies but isn’t registered, register it on the PRS Exemptions Register first
If no exemption applies, take advice about improvements before you register
Diary the exemption expiry. When it changes, the register needs updating within 28 days

Why it matters

Councils already enforce MEES, and penalties under the MEES regulations are separate from the register’s penalties. Accurate answers on the register are your protection. Giving misleading information, even recklessly, carries penalties of up to £40,000. See penalties.

Our free checklist includes the EPC and MEES questions. Check your region’s dates with the deadline checker.

This guide is general information about the Register your rental property service, based on GOV.UK guidance and the draft regulations. It is not legal advice. Register-Ready is independent of GOV.UK. For your own situation, check the GOV.UK guidance or take professional advice.