Guide

MEES exemptions explained

If reaching EPC C is genuinely not possible or not cost-effective, a registered exemption can let you continue letting lawfully. Here are the main grounds and how they work.

Exemptions are the safety valve in the MEES regime. They are not loopholes: each has specific evidence requirements, most last five years, and all must be recorded on the Government’s PRS Exemptions Register before you rely on them. The checker on this page flags where an exemption looks possible for a property — it never determines one.

The main grounds

All relevant improvements made

You have installed every relevant measure (up to the cost cap) and the property still falls short of the target.

Cost cap / high cost

The improvements needed would cost more than the cap, so you are not required to spend beyond it.

Wall insulation damage

Independent expert advice says the necessary cavity or solid wall insulation would damage the property.

Third-party consent

A necessary consent — from the tenant, a lender, a superior landlord or planning — has been refused, or given with unreasonable conditions.

Property devaluation

A qualified independent surveyor advises the measures would reduce the property’s market value by more than 5%.

New landlord

A temporary six-month exemption for someone who has recently become a landlord in defined circumstances, to give time to comply.

See where your property stands

Last reviewed June 2026. Exemption detail under the EPC-C standard is still being finalised; the grounds above reflect the current MEES framework. This is general information, not legal advice.

Common questions

How do I register an exemption?

Exemptions are self-registered on the Government’s PRS Exemptions Register, with supporting evidence. They are not automatic — without a valid registered exemption a sub-standard property cannot be let.

How long does an exemption last?

Most MEES exemptions last five years (the new-landlord exemption is six months). When it expires you must try again to improve the property or register a fresh exemption if one still applies.

Can I claim an exemption just because the work is expensive?

Only within the cost cap rules: once you have spent up to the cap on the relevant improvements without reaching the target, an "all relevant improvements made" or cost-cap exemption can apply. You cannot simply decline to do affordable work.

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