Glossary
MEES and EPC terms, in plain English.
22 terms landlords meet on the way to band C.
Short answer
MEES (Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards) are the regulations setting the lowest EPC rating a privately rented property in England and Wales can have. This glossary explains the terms landlords meet when working toward EPC C.
- MEES
- Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards. Regulations setting the lowest EPC rating a privately rented property in England and Wales can have.
- EPC
- Energy Performance Certificate. Shows a property's energy efficiency and recommended improvements. Valid for 10 years.
- EPC band
- The A–G rating on an EPC. A is most efficient, G least. The current rented-home minimum is E; from 1 October 2030 it is C.
- SAP
- Standard Assessment Procedure. The government method used to calculate domestic energy ratings.
- Fabric performance metric
- A new EPC metric measuring how well walls, roof, floors, windows and doors retain heat. Required for 2030 compliance.
- Heating system metric
- A new EPC metric measuring how efficiently and cleanly a home is heated. One of two alternative secondary tests.
- Smart readiness metric
- A new EPC metric measuring a home's ability to use flexible, low-carbon energy, such as smart meters, solar PV and batteries.
- Energy cost metric
- The familiar running-cost rating. On new-style EPCs it is shown for information and does not decide 2030 compliance.
- Cost cap
- The most a landlord must spend on improvements per property: £10,000 including VAT, or 10% of value for homes under £100,000.
- PRS
- Private rented sector. Homes let by private landlords, as opposed to social housing.
- PRS Exemptions Register
- The government register where landlords record MEES exemptions and evidence. An exemption only applies once registered.
- Compliance notice
- A request from a local authority for information showing a property meets MEES. Ignoring one can lead to a penalty.
- Publication penalty
- A penalty where details of a landlord's breach are published on the public part of the PRS Exemptions Register.
- Relevant improvement
- An energy efficiency measure recommended for the property that a landlord must consider before claiming a cost-cap exemption.
- Grandfathering
- The expected rule that old-style EPCs rated C or above, issued before 1 October 2029, count as compliant until they expire.
- Retrofit coordinator
- A qualified professional who assesses, designs and oversees energy retrofit projects under PAS 2035.
- PAS 2035
- The British standard for whole-house domestic retrofit, required for most government-funded energy efficiency work.
- TrustMark
- The government-endorsed quality scheme for trades working on homes, including retrofit installers.
- MCS
- Microgeneration Certification Scheme. Certifies installers of heat pumps, solar PV and batteries. Required for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme
- A government grant of £7,500 toward an air or ground source heat pump in England and Wales.
- ECO4
- The Energy Company Obligation. Energy suppliers fund insulation and heating upgrades for eligible, usually low-income, households.
- Void period
- Time between tenancies when a property is empty. The best time for disruptive works such as floor or internal wall insulation.
Sources
- Domestic private rented property: minimum energy efficiency standard (GOV.UK)
- Warm Homes Plan (GOV.UK, January 2026)
Checked 18 September 2026. Regulations can change: always confirm on GOV.UK.
Know your number before you spend a penny.
An up-to-date EPC shows your rating and lists the measures that move it most. Book in 60 seconds on homesurvey.eu.