Webinar - Minimum Energy Standards - who cares: or why you should care

This webinar will present the background and findings from a Research Project funded by the Reading Real Estate Foundation (RREF) into the initial impacts of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Regulations, launched in April 2018.

Under the new regulations it became unlawful to grant a new letting of a property which does not have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of at least an E grade, with plans to widen the scope from 2020 (domestic) and 2023 (non-domestic) to continuing lettings. This is not the end of the matter however as the government are consulting on making the regulations more onerous.

Presenting the findings on the initial impact to the market of the new regulations, conducted through interviews over Summer/Autumn 2019 the research revealed that minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) have raised awareness of energy matters among valuers and asset managers alike; however the impact is not fully integrated in valuation and asset management.

Looking at some of the approaches taken, and the implications of current regulations, this webinar considers how far MEES has been successful. It argues it has in terms of awareness but not in full market recognition that the regulations are, in reality, only a start to the requirements needed to meet climate change targets, and the threats to assets becoming stranded in the future.

Sarah Sayce is Professor of Sustainable Real Estate at Henley Business School. She has researched extensively on energy and sustainability matters as they impact property. Her latest co-authored book was the Handbook of Sustainable Real Estate (2018) and she is co-author of the RICS Guidance on MEES. Sarah is also a member of RICS Valuation Professional Board.