Get Your Commercial Property to EPC B by 2031

Our EPC B upgrade plan for commercial property

Reaching EPC B takes more than a new certificate. You need to know what the law requires, which upgrades will work, what they cost and whether they pay back. With more than 17 years' experience in energy assessment, we give you all of that in one report.

What you get

1. Existing building calculation. We survey the property and build an energy model of the building as it stands today. This confirms the true current rating and shows where the energy is lost.
2. Proposed calculation. We produce a second model with the upgrades we recommend, showing the rating the building will achieve once they are installed.
3. Cost breakdown. Each recommended improvement is itemised with an indicative cost, so you can see what every step towards B will require.
4. Payback period. We calculate how long each measure takes to pay for itself through energy savings. Where works would not pay back within seven years, we prepare the evidence for an exemption.
5. Council and Building Regulations review. We check the proposals against your local council's planning requirements and the Building Regulations before you commit to any works.

Turnaround: 5 working days once we have everything we need.

MEES for commercial property: the legal requirements

The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) apply to privately rented commercial property in England and Wales.

• Today: a commercial property must be rated EPC E or better to be let. This has applied to all existing leases since April 2023.
• By 2031: the government confirmed in June 2026 that rented commercial buildings over 1,000 m² must reach EPC B, where the works are cost-effective. This is subject to legislation.
• Under 1,000 m²: the minimum stays at EPC E, with no date set for a higher standard.
• EPC validity: a certificate lasts 10 years and is required whenever a building is sold, let or constructed.

EPC B by 2031 (it was 2030): what the rules now say

EPC B by 2031 is confirmed government policy for larger rented commercial buildings in England and Wales, but it is not yet law. The position comes from the interim response of 18 June 2026.

• Over 1,000 m²: EPC B by 2031, where cost-effective
• Under 1,000 m²: stays at EPC E, no deadline to go further
• 2027 EPC C milestone: dropped
• 7-year payback test: stays, along with the existing exemptions
• Maximum penalty today: up to £150,000 per breach, based on rateable value
• Still to come: full consultation response and secondary legislation
• Still undecided: how the 1,000 m² is measured, enforcement, shell-and-core, tenant duties

If you've read about EPC B by 2030 for commercial property: that was the earlier proposal, with EPC C by 2027 on the way. The government has moved the date to 2031 and dropped the 2027 step.

MEES compliance: penalties for letting below the minimum

• Letting below the minimum standard for less than 3 months: £5,000 or 10% of rateable value, whichever is higher, up to £50,000
• Letting below the minimum standard for 3 months or more: £10,000 or 20% of rateable value, whichever is higher, up to £150,000
• No valid EPC when selling or letting: £500 to £5,000, based on rateable value

Landlords in breach of MEES can also be named on the public exemptions register.

Building Regulations and council requirements

Energy upgrades are building work, and most must comply with Part L of the Building Regulations (conservation of fuel and power).

• Replacement windows, insulation, heating, cooling and lighting must meet minimum efficiency standards.
• In buildings over 1,000 m², extensions or new and enlarged building services can trigger a duty to make further energy improvements.
• External changes such as solar panels, heat pump units, external wall insulation and new windows may need planning permission, particularly in conservation areas and for listed buildings.

We identify what approvals your project needs, so there are no surprises once work starts.

Questions we get asked

Does my building need to reach EPC B?
If it is a rented commercial building over 1,000 m², the government's confirmed policy is EPC B by 2031. Smaller buildings currently need EPC E.

Is EPC B by 2031 already law?
Not yet. It was confirmed as government policy in June 2026 and still requires legislation. Starting early gives you time to plan works around lease events.

Can I get a MEES exemption for a commercial property?
Yes, if an upgrade won't pay back within seven years. That test stays under the 2031 policy. We prepare the payback evidence, and you register the exemption on the PRS Exemptions Register. Exemptions last five years.

Who is responsible, the landlord or the tenant?
The landlord is responsible for meeting MEES. The lease decides who pays for the works and how access is arranged. A tenant who sublets becomes a landlord under the rules.

Do I need a new EPC after the works?
Yes. Once the upgrades are installed, we lodge a new certificate to confirm the improved rating.

How much does an EPC B upgrade plan cost?
From £700+VAT. We run two sets of SBEM calculations, the current rating and the upgraded one, and put the results into the plan. Turnaround is 5 working days once we have everything.

Do you do EPC B plans for offices in London?
Yes. We're based in London and do EPC B plans for offices and other commercial buildings across London and the rest of England and Wales. Send the floor plans and the current EPC for a free quote.

We work out U-values for the existing and upgraded walls, roofs and floors. See U-value calculations.

Send us your files and plans for a free quote, by email or WhatsApp.

Guide: EPC B by 2031: what commercial landlords need to know

Related: SBEM calculations, commercial EPC, TM44 inspections and DECs. Planning wider upgrades? See energy assessments for retrofit projects. Adding solar panels? See solar PV to reach EPC B.

This page is general guidance and not legal advice. Last updated October 2026.