These cover ASHP ( air to water and air to air) , GSHP and WATER SOURCE HEAT PUMPS, BIOMASS BOILERS
https://www.gov.uk/apply-boiler-upgrade-scheme/what-you-can-get?
-
CURRENT GRANTS FOR BOILER UPGRADE SCHEME – AUG 2026
August 5, 2026Category: News
-
Government annouce MEES EPC levels for Non-Domestic Buildings
June 18, 2026(with thanks to Quidos Accreditation Scheme)
The Government has provided an update on its approach to strengthening Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) in the non-domestic private rented sector, following previous consultations and extensive engagement with industry, investors, local authorities, and wider stakeholders.
Earlier proposals (2019 and 2021) set out plans to raise MEES requirements to EPC B across the non-domestic private rented sector, reflecting the role of energy efficiency in reducing energy bills, strengthening energy security, and supporting the transition to net zero.
Following further consultation and feedback from stakeholders, the Government has now confirmed a revised and more proportionate approach. The updated framework maintains long-term ambition while introducing greater flexibility for smaller businesses and landlords.
A more targeted approach to MEES
Under the revised proposal, from 2031 it is intended that non-domestic private rented buildings over 1,000 square metres in England and Wales will be required to meet an EPC B standard, where cost effective.
This represents a more targeted approach compared to earlier proposals, which would have applied across the entire non-domestic building stock.
Government modelling suggests that improving the largest premises could deliver significant benefits, including estimated tenant energy cost savings of around £360 million per year by 2031.
Buildings below 1,000 square metres will continue to be subject to the current EPC E minimum standard.
Removal of interim milestone
The previously proposed interim EPC C milestone for 2027 will not be taken forward. This change provides additional time for landlords and tenants to plan investment and retrofit activity in a way that aligns with building requirements, lease structures, and financial planning.
Flexibility and practical implementation
Existing flexibility mechanisms will remain in place, including the 7-year payback test and exemptions. These ensure that only measures which are practical, affordable, and cost-effective are required.
The changes to raise MEES to EPC B for larger buildings will be implemented following the successful passage of secondary legislation through Parliament.Implications for the sector
The revised approach focuses regulatory requirements where they can deliver the greatest impact, particularly in larger, higher-energy-use buildings. At the same time, it maintains baseline standards for smaller properties while offering greater flexibility for SMEs and high street landlords.
Catherine Garrido, Managing Director at Quidos, commented:
“We welcome the increased clarity and the move towards more targeted requirements for the non-domestic sector. However, as always, the detail will be crucial in ensuring the policy is practical and deliverable in practice. We would also like to see further clarity on the longer-term trajectory for smaller properties as soon as possible, to help landlords and businesses plan and invest with confidence.”
This balance is intended to support investment in building improvements, reduce exposure to volatile energy prices, and strengthen UK energy security over the long term.
Next steps
The Government will publish its formal consultation response in due course, providing further detail on implementation, regulatory design, and supporting guidance. Legislative changes will follow at the earliest opportunity.
Quidos will continue to monitor developments closely and support professionals across the sector as the policy framework evolves.
Source: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2026-06-18/hcws126
Category: News
-
What changes are coming for the MEES regulations, and what rating must a building have in the future?
May 1, 2026Under the current regime, commercial properties that are required to have an EPC cannot be let if they are rated F or G, or unless a valid exemption has been registered. It is not enough to qualify for an exemption; a building owner must have actually registered the exemption for it to be valid and to bring the building outside the MEES regulations.
With regard to residential property, it is now clear that, as from 1 October 2030, all new and existing lettings of privately rented residential property must have an EPC rating of C or higher, and the government has confirmed that a similar timetable will also apply to socially rented homes. This places a heavy financial burden on local authorities or housing associations, who may now need to timetable and consider how they are going to pay for significant energy improvement upgrades to their property stock.
However, the position regarding commercial property remains uncertain. Originally, it was thought that, based on the 2021 consultation, commercial properties would have to have a minimum EPC rating of C by April 2027 and B by April 2030. It is now expected that a minimum EPC rating of B will be introduced for commercial property at some point between 2030 and 2035, but the government has not confirmed whether it will require an interim C rating.
This leaves commercial building owners in an unsatisfactory position, not knowing whether an upgrade from the current E rating to a C rating will be required and, if so, by when. The jump from an E rating to a B rating could be considerable and extremely costly for landlords. It is still widely reported that a significant proportion of the private rented sector falls below the EPC C threshold, meaning that, to meet the legal requirements by 2030 in relation to residential property, substantial work will have to be done across the property sector. There needs to be an uptick in the amount of insulation, glazing, heating system replacements, and the installation of renewable technologies in those properties.
The fact that there is still some uncertainty over when the current EPC E rating is going to be upgraded to either B or C, also causes commercial landlords concern because they are not able to plan properly in terms of when they may want to spend significant capital sums on the property and/or when works may need to be coordinated to chime in with lease termination events and ingoing tenants.
Landlords cannot, however, afford to simply ignore the EPC and MEES requirements because, in the case of a residential property, non-compliance with the EPC and MEES requirements means they face a fine of up to £5,000 per property and for commercial properties, the penalties are even larger and up to £150,000 for larger buildings.
So what should building owners do now?
A prudent building owner should :Ensure that for any property stock, there is an EPC certificate currently in place
Diarise the expiry date, and if any exemptions are in place, log the date they need to be renewed and the supporting information that will be required
Identify the properties most at risk of future non-compliance, obtain quotes for improvement works, and plan for budgeting and paying for those works well in advance of any deadlines.(with thanks to Nyree Applegarth
Partner and Head of Property Litigation, Higgs LLP)https://www.higgsllp.co.uk/articles/how-epc-and-mees-reforms-will-affect-residential-and-commercial-landlords
Category: News
-
Some interesting home energy cost data
July 17, 2023Category: News
-
Electricity Market Reform 2.0: Could new plans unhitch electricity bills from soaring gas prices?
June 20, 2022Major power market redesign could see wind, solar, and nuclear generators sell electricity at a lower price than fossil gas power plants
Ministers are reportedly considering major energy market reform, which would see the price of electricity in the UK decoupled from the price of fossil gas, as part of an effort to curb household bills…(with thanks to Business Green : https://www.businessgreen.comCategory: News
-
Rural landlords need clarity over energy standards
June 20, 2022Eighteen months have passed since the government first published its consultation on improving the minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) in privately rented homes. That document set out plans to raise the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) energy efficiency rating to Band C for new tenancies from 2025 and for all existing tenancies from 2028.
The consultation also recommended increasing the landlord’s cap – the maximum amount of money a landlord must invest to improve a property’s energy efficient rating – from £3,500 to £10,000.
The government’s original plan was to publish responses to the consultation in spring 2021, with a view to laying regulations in the autumn of 2021. However, we are now in April 2022 and we are still waiting for an announcement.
MEES and rural properties
Meeting MEES rules is already a challenge for anyone managing rural housing, as so many properties in the countryside are old, of traditional construction, listed or in a conservation area. This makes many of the measures designed to improve energy efficiency impossible or inappropriate. The delay in announcing what will be required of landlords in future adds a further complication. Landlords are conscious they need to take appropriate action, or they may be left with stranded assets that will be impossible to let, unless they qualify for an exemption. Yet deciding on the best course of action is impossible until there is certainty about what the legislation says.
Many rural landlords are keen to get on with making improvements – for the benefit of their tenants, the property and because it feels the right thing to do environmentally. However, there is currently no guarantee that if a landlord spends money on improving a property today it will count towards the payment cap, assuming it is introduced as set out in the consultation. As it stands, there is a danger that a landlord with a property that is now F or G rated could spend £5,000 on energy improvements today and still have to spend another £10,000 next year. It is not a surprise that people are holding off making decisions unless they are forced to – for example, if the boiler in a property breaks down.
EPC updates
A further complication is that the EPC scoring criteria is also due to be updated shortly, with the government acknowledging that they need to be accurate, reliable, and trusted if it is basing policies around them. There are two kinds of EPCs – a Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) and RDSAP (Reduced Data Standard Assessment Procedure) – the latter being a simplified version of the former, with the RDSAP tending to be used for existing buildings.
Any changes to the way EPCs are scored are important, as it is the EPC which ultimately guides how money should be spent to improve the energy efficiency of a building. If there are significant changes it will affect how money is best spent and could even change the banding a property sits within – upwards or downwards.
VAT scrapped
The Chancellor’s announcement in the Spring Statement that the government will be scrapping VAT on installation of energy efficiency measures, such as solar panels and heat pumps, in residential property may be helpful for landlords. This is a measure that will be in place from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2027, with the VAT rate returning to 5% after this date. However, landlords do need some clarity about what MEES rules they will need to meet and by when, to allow them to make the right decisions about energy efficiency measures.
(With thanks for this to Sarah Roberts of Strutt and Parker, Chelmsford)Category: News
-
FUEL COST COMPARISON DATA – MAY 2022
May 26, 2022Some interesting data about different costs and Carbon Emissions per kWHr of various fuels and heating systems.
Fuel costs May 2022 – Nottingham Energy Partnership
With thanks to Nottingham Energy Partnership
Category: News
-
NEW BOILER UPGRADE SCHEME LAUNCHED
May 26, 2022The Renewable Heat Incentive has now closed to new applications and has been replaced by the Boiler Upgrade Scheme which gives a one-off grant that helps to fund Air Source Heat Pumps, Ground Source Heat Pumps and Biomass Boilers.
Category: News
-
Let EPCs do what they are supposed to do
February 18, 2022Category: News
-
Government Consultation: Improving home energy efficiency through lenders
February 20, 2021Lenders could have a role in building a market for energy performance improvements. The government has been engaging with lenders, their engagement organisations, and other financial stakeholders to better understand how government can encourage lenders to innovate.
This Government consultation sets out a range of proposals that could improve the energy performance of mortgaged properties, and deliver substantial emissions reductions.
improving-home-energy-performance-through-lenders-consultation
improving-home-energy-performance-through-lenders-impact-assessment
The consultation is open to all, but will be of particular interest to:
- mortgage lenders and brokers, home valuers, estate agents and others involved in the sale of homes
- those in the energy efficiency supply chain, including installers, domestic energy assessors, accreditation bodies and enforcement bodies
- homeowners with a mortgage
The consultation covers:
- proposals to improve awareness of the energy performance of lenders’ portfolios
- a target-based approach for improving the energy performance of lenders’ portfolios
We have published a consultation stage impact assessment alongside this consultation.improving-home-energy-performance-through-lenders-consultation.
Consultation closed Feb 2021. A Government response to the consultation is awaited.
Category: News
