How to check if a commercial building has a MEES exemption
Updated 23 October 2026 · SEO Dons Editorial
How do you search the exemptions register?
Anyone can. gov.uk says members of the public can search the Exemptions Register for details of exempt properties and penalties issued to non-compliant landlords. It is the public side of MEES compliance: a property that needs an EPC must have a rating of E or above, or a valid exemption. The examples below are all commercial (non-domestic) buildings.
- Open gov.uk's View private rented sector energy standards exemptions page and select Start now.
- Search by postcode, street name and town, the landlord's name, or exemption or penalty type.
- Open the entry that matches the unit. Landlords type in the address themselves when they register, so try the postcode first, then the street and town.
- Look for penalty entries as well as exemptions, because the service searches both.
- Note the exemption type and the date registered, then work out the end date as shown below.
The search covers registered exemptions and published penalties only. It is a record of what landlords have registered, not a compliance check on the building.
What does a register listing tell you?
gov.uk says the register shows "when the property was registered as exempt and the reason". The regulations let the Secretary of State publish five details for each registered property.
| Detail | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Address of the property | Confirms the entry is for your unit and not a neighbour's |
| Landlord's name, where the landlord is not an individual | Lets you compare the registered landlord with the current owner |
| The exemption relied on | Shows the ground, such as consent refused or devaluation |
| A copy of the valid EPC | Shows the rating and the certificate the exemption was built on |
| The date registered | The starting point for working out the end date |
The EPC copy is the certificate that was valid when the exemption was registered. Under regulation 22 a later EPC replaces an earlier one, so compare it with the latest certificate on the EPC register: a newer rating may mean the exemption is no longer needed, or that the position has changed.
A penalty entry is a different record. A publication penalty must be published for a minimum of 12 months, so an old entry can still be visible.
How do you read the exemption type and end date?
The type tells you how long the cover lasts. The types themselves are explained in MEES exemptions explained.
- Five years: the seven-year payback, all improvements made, wall insulation and devaluation exemptions, according to gov.uk. For the all-improvements route, regulation 29 counts the five years from the date the landlord registers.
- Consent: five years or, where lack of tenant consent was the issue, until the current tenancy ends or is assigned to a new tenant.
- Temporary: six months from the date the landlord became the landlord, which may be earlier than the date registered.
For example, a listing for a trading-estate unit shows "all improvements made" with a registration date in March 2022. The cover would end in March 2027 unless the owner ended it sooner, because the property was improved to E or stopped being let. After that the landlord must try again to improve the rating, and a further exemption may be registered if one still applies. A listing past its end date, with no newer entry, gives no cover.
For example, a buyer completes the purchase of a let unit on 1 October and registers the temporary exemption on 20 October. The six months run from 1 October, not from 20 October.
Why does an exemption registered by a previous owner not protect a buyer?
Because it does not transfer. gov.uk says registered exemptions "may not pass over to a new owner or landlord of a property upon sale, or other transfer". If a let property is sold with an exemption registered, "the exemption will cease to be effective", and the new owner must improve the property to the minimum standard or register an exemption where one applies, if they intend to carry on letting. An entry in the seller's name is therefore no evidence that the building can be let after completion.
A buyer of a property let on an existing tenancy is not left without time: regulation 33 disapplies the continuing-to-let rule for six months from the date they become landlord, but only if they register it. To see whether the registered landlord still owns the building, compare the name on the listing, which is published for companies, with the owner shown on the title register. HM Land Registry's service lets anyone get information about a property in England or Wales, even if they do not own it.
What does it mean if a building is not on the register?
Not necessarily a problem. gov.uk says properties covered by the Regulations that have been improved to at least EPC E do not need to be registered, and an exemption is not required where a rented property is outside the Regulations, for example because it is not legally required to have an EPC or is not let on a relevant tenancy type. Regulation 20 also takes out tenancies granted for a term certain of six months or less (with exceptions) and of 99 years or more. An empty search does not show whether a letting complies.
The next step is the EPC itself: how to find a commercial EPC on the register explains the search, and the commercial EPC checker tests the validity dates. If there is no valid EPC, an enquiry can be sent through the form on this site.
What should you ask the landlord?
- Buyers: which exemption is registered, its registration date and the evidence behind it; whether the property has been improved since; and how the seller expects the exemption to be treated at completion.
- Tenants: which exemption applies. If it rests on the tenant's refusal of consent, regulation 31 says the landlord may no longer rely on it once that tenant's tenancy has ended. The lease still decides who does works.
- Agents and lenders: the current EPC and its date, any penalty entry, and the end date of any exemption, checked against the register rather than a covering email.
An exemption is a self-certified record, so the answers are worth confirming against the evidence. To register one yourself, see how to register a commercial MEES exemption; the wider rules are on the MEES compliance page.
Sources
- View private rented sector energy standards exemptions, DESNZ, GOV.UK, published 5 May 2026, checked 22 October 2026.
- Non-domestic private rented property: landlord guidance, DESNZ, GOV.UK, last updated 5 May 2026, checked 22 October 2026.
- Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015, regulations 20, 22, 29, 31, 33, 36 and 39, legislation.gov.uk, checked 22 October 2026.
- Search for land and property information, HM Land Registry, GOV.UK, checked 22 October 2026.
- Find an energy certificate, GOV.UK, checked 22 October 2026.
Common questions
Can anyone search the exemptions register?
Yes. gov.uk says members of the public can search the Exemptions Register for details of exempt properties and penalties issued to non-compliant landlords. The View service can be searched by postcode, street name and town, the landlord's name or exemption or penalty type.
Does an expired exemption still protect the building?
No. The guidance says that when an exemption expires the landlord must try again to improve the EPC rating, and that a further exemption may be registered if that cannot be achieved. A listing past its end date, with no newer entry, shows no current cover.
Does an exemption that rests on the tenant's refusal end when the tenant leaves?
Yes. The guidance says it lasts, where lack of tenant consent was the issue, until the current tenancy ends or is assigned to a new tenant. Regulation 31(3) says the landlord may no longer rely on the exemption once that tenant's tenancy has come to an end.
What does a penalty entry on the register mean?
It records a penalty issued to a landlord for failing to comply with the standards. A publication penalty must be published for at least 12 months, so an old entry can remain visible. It is a prompt to ask what has been done since, and to check the current EPC rating.