Check your property against the MEES energy rules for free

MEES stands for Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards. It is the regulation that sets the lowest EPC rating a property can have and still be legally rented out in England and Wales. For commercial property the current minimum is EPC E, and the government has proposed raising it to EPC C by 2027/28.

No, but they are linked. An EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) is the rating itself, from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). MEES (Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards) is the law that says how high that EPC rating must be before you can legally let the property. You need a valid EPC to prove you meet MEES.

Yes. You must have a valid EPC to legally market or let a commercial property in England and Wales, and that EPC must meet the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (currently EPC E). Letting without a valid, compliant EPC can lead to fines of up to £150,000. EPCs are valid for 10 years.

This tool pulls your property's current EPC rating from the official government register and checks it against both the current MEES minimum (EPC E) and the proposed future minimums (EPC C by 2027/28 and EPC B by 2030). It tells you whether your property is compliant today and whether it will still be compliant when the rules tighten.

The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) set the lowest EPC rating a commercial property can have and still be legally let in England and Wales. Since April 2023 the minimum is EPC E. The government has proposed raising this to C by 2027/28 and B by 2030. If your property falls below the minimum, you cannot legally let it and face fines of up to £150,000.

Three things. First, you cannot legally let the property, which means lost rental income. Second, you face fines of up to 20% of the rateable value, capped at £150,000 per property. Third, the penalty is published on a public register, which is visible to tenants, lenders, and investors. Some lenders are also refusing to refinance commercial mortgages on properties with poor EPC ratings.

Properties rated D or E are legal to let today under the current EPC E minimum, but would become non-compliant if the proposed EPC C minimum takes effect in 2027/28. This means they could become unlettable within 2 years. Getting ahead of it now means you choose when and how to improve, rather than scrambling when the deadline hits.

Enforcement has been patchy so far, with only a handful of publicised cases. But the government has signalled stronger enforcement alongside the proposed tightening. The bigger risk for most landlords is not the fine itself but the inability to let the property, lost rental income, and lender requirements that already factor in EPC ratings.

This tool pulls live data from the official EPC register maintained by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). Results show the most recent non-domestic EPC lodged for each property at the postcode searched. The data is the same register that enforcement authorities use.

Start with a current EPC assessment. Your existing EPC may be outdated and your actual rating could be different. A new assessment will also include recommendations for improvements that could lift your rating to C or above. The earlier you plan, the more options you have and the lower the cost. Most improvement works are cheaper when done proactively rather than under deadline pressure.

Yes, completely free with no signup required to check. We built it so property managers and landlords can understand their position before spending anything. If your property needs a new Commercial EPC, Axe Energy can survey and lodge within 24 to 48 hours, with fixed pricing from £149.