Sustainability Flashcards
What are the MEES
Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards, 2015
Outline the minimum EPC rating a Property must have in order to be leased:
April 2018 - all NEW commercial and Residential leases must have an EPC rating of E or more
April 2020 - all existing residential leases must have an EPC rating of E or more
April 2023 - all existing commercial leases must have an EPC rating of E or more
What are the MEES exceptions?
- If a building has a lease of less than 6 months
- Religious Buildings
- Industrial Units with low energy demand
What are the penalties for non-compliance with the MEES?
For Residential Property:
= where a breach has lasted less than 3 months - £2,000
= where a breach has lasted more than 3 months - £4,000
What if you’re leasing a resi property when the EPC rating is an F or G?
Landlord is required to spend up to £3,500 to improve the energy efficiency
What are the potential changes to the MEES
Minimum MEES threshold will rise in 2027 to a C and by 2030 to a B
What are the implications of raising the MEES
Will require upgrades to energy efficiency of all leases asap
Letting agents will only b able to let properties compliant with MEES
What is the Climate change levy?
The climate change levy is a tax to non-domestic users in the UK to push them to increase energy efficiency, Renewable energy is not charged.
£1.9 billion pa to UK treasury
What is net zero?
Carbon neutrality - when the carbon emissions produced are balanced with those being taken out of the atmosphere
What is the Climate Change Act?
Amended in 2019 to require the UK to be net zero by 2050 and an interim ttarget of 78% reduction by 2030
What is the Better Buildings Partnership?
A pledge by a number of property funds and REITs to establish how to reach net zero
What is UK Green Building Council’s framework for the BBP
- Establish Net Zero Scope = across the whole lifecycle of buildings
- Reduce construction impact = focus on changing the materials used
- Reduce operational energy use = retrofitting buildings
- Increase Renewable Energy Supply
- Offset remaining emissions
What is the Carbon Budget
Set every 5 years under the Climate Change Act with increasingly difficult target and stronger regulations
When does a property NOT need an EPC
- listed buildings
- buildings which have no heating etc
- religious buildings
- temporary buildings
- buildings due to be demolished
- resi units not occupied more than 4 months a year
When is an EPC required for marketing
Must be commissioned within 7 days of the commencement of marketing (28 day limit for procurement)
Who is responsible for procuring the EPC for marketing
The Agent
