Stay informed with the latest news and useful links
Keep up to date with the latest developments in energy efficiency, regulations and sustainable practices through our regularly updated page
The PRS Database - how to register your rental property
On 9th September 2026, the Government announced that it will launch the PRS Database of landlords and privately rented properties on 15th December 2026. The regional roll-out will begin in the West Midlands and landlords will be given 3 months to register their properties.
The roll-out in the South East will commence on 15th March 2027, with the deadline to register being 14th June 2027.
It will cost £65 for landlords to register each property on the PRS Database, and they will need to renew their registrations each year and pay the £65 fee each renewal.
Although it is referred to as the Private Rented Sector Database in the Renters' Rights Act, the name of the Database has been changed to the “Register your rental property” service.
Once registration becomes compulsory in a region, landlords will need an active Landlord Registration Number and a Property Registration Number for each property they let, and will need to keep the entries up to date. The rules that stop a property being marketed or advertised without registration numbers will come later, under further legislation, once the regional roll-out is complete.
If landlords fail to register, local councils have the ability to issue a civil penalty of up to £7,000 for a single breach.
More detailed information can be found on this Gov.UK page: https://housinghub.campaign.gov.uk/renting-is-changing/get-ready-to-register/
A complete guide to the Renters' Rights Act 2025
From 1 May 2026, the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 will give tenants new rights and introduce new rules for private landlords. The Government has provided a helpful information sheet which explains how the new rules may affect your current tenancy. You can find out more and download the information sheet here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-renters-rights-act-information-sheet-2026
Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES)
Domestic MEES
In April 2016, The Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) Regulations 2015 brought into force Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) in the residential and commercial Private Rented Sector (PRS). These standards apply to properties in England and Wales.
This has been introduced by government to improve the quality of private rented buildings and reduce the overall CO2 emissions in accordance with the UKs targets for decarbonisation. From 1st April 2018, phase one of the MEES regulations came into force which has big implications for landlords of private rented property. As a result of this, it is now deemed unlawful to let properties with an EPC rating below an ‘E’ rating and Landlords could face financial penalties of up to £5,000 for not meeting these minimum standards.
EPC Marketing can help Landlords by commissioning an up to date EPC which will determine the energy efficiency of their existing housing stock. The recommendations from the EPC can also help to clarify potential improvement measures.
Domestic MEES timeline
1st April 2016
Domestic tenants were given the right to request energy efficiency improvements to their properties. This applies to domestic properties let under longer term assured and regulated tenancies. Landlords will be unable to refuse consent to a tenant’s request to make energy efficiency improvements.
1st April 2018
It became unlawful to grant new leases for residential property with an EPC rating below an ‘E’.
1st April 2019
£3,500 cost cap introduced– Where third party funding (ECO, grants etc) is unavailable, domestic landlords must use their own funding to cover the cost of improving their property to EPC band E.
This requirement is subject to a spending cap of £3,500 (inclusive of VAT) for each property.
1st April 2020
The regulation expanded to apply to ALL residential privately rented property which are required to have an EPC.
2025 - 2028 (proposed)
The government has proposed a number of different scenarios for Domestic MEES regulations, and we continue to await the final outcome of the consultation. The government’s preferred option is for new tenancies’ to reach EPC C rating from 1 April 2025 and ‘all tenancies’ to reach the same target by 1 April 2028.
Non-domestic MEES
Since 2018 It has been unlawful to grant new leases for private rented commercial properties with an EPC rating below an ‘E’. This scope will be expanding further in 2023 to include existing leases. The government has also established a long term target of EPC rating B for all private rented commercial properties by 2030, with the industry just waiting on how this will be implemented.
We encourage landlords to get an up to date EPC as soon as possible to determine the energy efficiency of their existing properties. Non-Domestic properties will typically take longer to improve, which is why early action is recommended.
The cost of non-compliance is significantly higher for non-domestic landlords as it is linked to the rateable value of the property- which means it could be as much as £150,000.
Non-domestic MEES timeline
1st April 2018
It became unlawful to grant new leases for commercial properties with an EPC rating below an ‘E’.
1st April 2023
The Non-Domestic MEES regulations will be extended to include ALL existing commercial leases.
2025-2028 (Proposed)
Within the Non-domestic PRS: EPC B implementation consultation the government proposed an interim target to ensure that the long term target of EPC rating B by 2030 is met.
They propose that form 1st April 2027, All non-domestic rented buildings must have improved the building to an EPC C, or register a valid exemption.
On the 1st April 2025 and 2028 private rented landlords in the scope of MEES may also need to present a valid EPC.
1st April 2030
The Energy White paper confirmed the future trajectory for Non-Domestic MEES- highlighting that all private rented non-domestic properties will need to have an EPC rating of ‘B’ or higher.
The government has consulted on the implementation of this new target and industry now awaits an outcome, where more detail (including proposed interim targets) will be provided.