Landlords now have a new GOV.UK route for checking private rented sector energy standards exemptions and penalties, after the government published a new “view private rented sector energy standards exemptions” service on 5 May 2026.
The service is aimed at the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards regime, usually shortened to MEES. It lets users search for private rented sector properties that have registered exemptions, or that have been issued penalties for failing to comply with the standards. Searches can be made by postcode, street name and town, landlord name, or exemption and penalty type.
For landlords, the practical point is simple: if a rented property needs an Energy Performance Certificate, it should normally have an EPC rating of E or above, unless a valid exemption applies. The register can show when a property was registered as exempt and the reason for that exemption.
Why this matters for landlords
MEES is not new, but the register is a useful reminder that exemptions are not just private paperwork kept in a landlord file. Where an exemption is relied on, it needs to be correctly registered and capable of being checked.
GOV.UK’s domestic landlord guidance says the MEES Regulations apply to domestic private rented properties that are let on covered tenancy types and are legally required to have an EPC. Since 1 April 2020, landlords have not been able to let, or continue to let, covered properties with an EPC rating below E unless a valid exemption is in place.
That makes the register relevant both before a new letting and during ongoing portfolio checks. A landlord who believes a property is exempt should be able to confirm the entry, check the exemption reason, and make sure the evidence behind it is still in order.
This sits alongside wider energy-efficiency planning. We recently covered Warm Homes changes and what landlords should check now, and the same broad message applies here: keep the property records, EPC position and improvement history easy to find before a problem arises.
What the new service can show
The new GOV.UK page says the service can be used to search for properties with registered exemptions and properties that have been issued penalties for failing to comply with the private rented sector energy standards.
That is useful for several everyday scenarios. A landlord taking on management of a property can check whether an exemption appears as expected. An agent can review whether the public record matches the landlord’s instructions. A buyer carrying out due diligence on a tenanted property can see whether a claimed exemption is visible on the register.
It may also help landlords spot administrative gaps. If a property is below EPC E and an exemption is being relied on, the important question is not only whether there is a reason, but whether that reason has been properly registered with the right supporting evidence.
The cost cap is still an important boundary
The domestic MEES landlord guidance also repeats a key point on improvement costs. Landlords are not currently required to spend more than £3,500, including VAT, on energy efficiency improvements for a domestic property under the MEES rules.
If a property cannot be improved to EPC E for £3,500 or less, landlords are expected to make the improvements that can be made up to that amount and then register an “all improvements made” exemption where appropriate. The guidance also notes that relevant energy efficiency investment made since 1 October 2017 can count within the cap.
This is not a reason to ignore poor ratings. It is a reason to keep careful records: EPC recommendations, quotes, invoices, grant evidence, correspondence and the exemption registration details all matter if the position is later challenged.
Checks to make now
Landlords with older, lower-rated stock may want to carry out a simple file review. First, list any property with an EPC rating of F or G, or any property where the current EPC position is uncertain. Second, check whether the property is covered by MEES and whether a valid EPC is required. Third, confirm whether the property has been improved to at least E or whether a registered exemption is being relied on.
Where an exemption is in place, check that the public register entry matches the property and the exemption reason. Where improvement work has been carried out, keep evidence of costs and dates. Where third-party funding has been explored, keep a note of what was available and what was not.
It is also worth reviewing related compliance records at the same time. The government’s recent focus on rented housing standards means energy efficiency should not be treated in isolation from repairs, damp, ventilation and tenant communications. Our earlier guide to damp and mould guidance for landlords is a useful companion for that wider property-condition review.
The bottom line
The new register page does not change the basic MEES obligation, but it does make the public checking route clearer. For landlords, that is a prompt to make sure any exemption being relied on is visible, current and backed by evidence.
This article is general information only, not legal or professional advice. Landlords dealing with a disputed exemption, enforcement contact or a complex property should consider taking advice from an appropriately qualified professional.
