EPC for Blocks of Flats and Commercial Property
Comprehensive energy performance certificate management for residential blocks and EPC commercial property compliance, including EPC exemption guidance and upcoming regulation changes.
An EPC block of flats assessment is a legal requirement whenever an individual flat is sold or let. Energy Performance Certificates provide a rating from A to G that indicates how energy-efficient a property is, along with recommendations for improvement. For managing agent teams responsible for multiple properties, ensuring every unit has a valid EPC and meets the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards is a core compliance obligation. At Block, we manage the entire energy performance process across every building in our portfolio, from arranging assessments and coordinating access to advising on energy improvement works and EPC exemption registration.
With new EPC regulations on the horizon and increasing scrutiny on landlords who let properties with low ratings, proactive energy compliance management has never been more important. Whether you are a freeholder, a leaseholder looking to let your flat, or a director of a residents' management company, we ensure your building meets its energy performance obligations. Our EPC management service sits alongside our wider block management services and building maintenance programmes, ensuring energy compliance is fully integrated into the ongoing care of your building.
EPC Requirements for Blocks of Flats and Communal Areas
Understanding when an EPC is and is not required in a block of flats is essential for compliance. Each individual flat that is sold or let requires its own EPC, but communal areas such as hallways, stairwells, and shared facilities do not. However, energy improvements to communal spaces, including upgraded communal heating, improved insulation, and energy-efficient lighting, can positively affect the energy performance ratings of individual units. Key requirements include:
For EPC commercial property requirements, the same principle applies: each self-contained unit requires its own certificate. Where a building contains a mix of residential and commercial space, our team ensures every unit is assessed and that all certificates are held on the EPC register as required by law. We coordinate bulk assessments to reduce costs for leaseholders and ensure consistent, accurate ratings across the entire block.
MEES Regulations and Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards
The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) set the legal minimum energy performance rating for properties that are let. Currently, landlords in England and Wales cannot grant a new tenancy or renew an existing tenancy for a property with an EPC rating of F or G. The regulations apply to both domestic and EPC commercial property lettings, and penalties for non-compliance can reach up to 5,000 pounds for domestic properties and up to 150,000 pounds for commercial premises.
The government has signalled its intention to tighten these standards further under new EPC regulations, with proposals to raise the minimum rating to C for new tenancies. This change will have significant implications for leaseholders who let their flats and for freeholders responsible for the building fabric. Many flats in older blocks currently rated D or E will need energy improvement works to meet the higher threshold. Planning for these improvements now, rather than waiting for legislation to take effect, is the most cost-effective approach.
At Block, we monitor regulatory developments closely and advise our clients on the steps they need to take to prepare. Where when is an EPC not required for commercial property questions arise, we provide clear guidance on the exemption criteria and the process for registering an EPC exemption on the PRS Exemptions Register. Our goal is to ensure every property under our management is either compliant or has a properly registered exemption in place before enforcement deadlines arrive.
Energy Improvement Recommendations for Blocks of Flats
Every EPC includes a list of recommended improvements that could raise the property's energy performance rating. In a block of flats, some improvements can be made by individual leaseholders within their own demise, while others require building-wide works coordinated by the managing agent or freeholder. Common energy improvement measures recommended for blocks include:
We work with specialist energy assessors and contractors to identify the most cost-effective improvements for each building. Where works qualify, we help secure available grants and funding. Our smart building management services can further enhance energy performance through intelligent monitoring and control of heating, lighting, and ventilation systems, while our EV charging installation service supports the wider sustainability objectives that increasingly influence property values and energy performance ratings.
Our Energy Compliance Management Service
Managing energy performance compliance across a portfolio of blocks requires a systematic, proactive approach. At Block, our energy compliance management service covers every aspect of EPC administration and MEES compliance. We take the burden off freeholders, directors, and leaseholders by managing the entire process from assessment through to improvement works and exemption registration.
- Maintaining a register of all EPCs across every building in our management portfolio
- Tracking expiry dates and arranging re-assessments before certificates lapse
- Coordinating access for energy assessors across multiple flats in a single visit
- Advising on the most impactful energy improvements relative to cost
- Managing energy improvement works through the service charge or reserve fund
- Registering valid EPC exemptions on the PRS Exemptions Register where applicable
- Monitoring new EPC regulations and advising clients on upcoming changes
- Providing clear reports on energy compliance status at every building
Every action is documented and reported transparently through the service charge accounts. Whether you need a single EPC for a flat you are selling, or a building-wide energy strategy to prepare for new EPC regulations, our team has the expertise to deliver. To discuss your building's energy performance needs, please contact us or call 0161 371 7190.
Frequently Asked Questions About EPCs for Blocks of Flats
Do I need an EPC for the communal area of a block of flats?
Communal areas of a block of flats do not generally require their own EPC. An EPC is required for each individual dwelling that is sold or let, not for shared hallways, stairwells, or other common parts. However, if the communal areas include a separate commercial unit or a self-contained caretaker's flat, those spaces would each require their own EPC. Where energy improvements to communal areas such as communal heating systems, lighting, or insulation affect the energy performance of individual flats, these improvements can positively influence the EPC ratings of the individual units within the block.
Do I need an EPC to let a flat?
Yes, you need a valid EPC to let a flat in England and Wales. An EPC must be obtained before the property is marketed and must be made available to prospective tenants. Under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES), the property must also have an EPC rating of at least E before it can be let. If the flat has a rating of F or G, the landlord must carry out energy efficiency improvements to bring it up to at least an E rating, or register a valid exemption on the PRS Exemptions Register. The EPC is valid for ten years, but a new one should be obtained if significant energy improvements have been made.
How much does an EPC cost for a flat?
The cost of an EPC for a flat typically ranges from 60 to 120 pounds, depending on the size of the property and the location. For blocks of flats where multiple EPCs are needed at the same time, such as when a block is being re-let or sold, a managing agent can often negotiate a reduced rate by instructing a single assessor to survey multiple units in one visit. At Block, we coordinate bulk EPC assessments across the buildings we manage to ensure leaseholders and landlords receive competitive pricing and consistent, accurate assessments.
What are the EPC rules for landlords in 2025?
As of 2025, landlords in England and Wales must ensure that any property they let has an EPC rating of at least E under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES). It is unlawful to grant a new tenancy or renew an existing tenancy for a property rated F or G unless a valid exemption has been registered. The government has indicated its intention to raise the minimum standard to a C rating for new tenancies, with existing tenancies to follow. Landlords should begin planning energy improvements now to avoid non-compliance when the new EPC regulations come into force. Penalties for letting a non-compliant property can reach up to 5,000 pounds per property.
What buildings are exempt from having an EPC?
Several categories of building are exempt from the requirement to have an EPC. These include listed buildings where compliance with energy performance requirements would unacceptably alter their character or appearance, places of worship, temporary buildings with a planned use of two years or less, stand-alone buildings with a total useful floor area of less than 50 square metres, industrial sites and workshops with low energy demand, and buildings due to be demolished. For commercial property, an EPC exemption may also apply where all reasonable energy efficiency improvements have been made and the property still cannot achieve the minimum rating. Any exemption must be registered on the PRS Exemptions Register and is typically valid for five years.
Can you sell a flat without an EPC?
No, you cannot legally sell a flat without a valid EPC in England and Wales. The Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations require that an EPC is commissioned before the property is put on the market and that a copy is provided to prospective buyers. Estate agents are also required to include the EPC rating in property listings. Failure to provide an EPC when selling can result in a penalty notice from trading standards of up to 5,000 pounds. If the flat is leasehold, the managing agent or freeholder may be able to assist with arranging the assessment, particularly where access to communal areas or heating systems is needed for an accurate rating.
Need Help with EPC Compliance for Your Block?
Whether you need EPCs arranged for individual flats, guidance on EPC exemption registration, or a building-wide energy performance improvement strategy to meet new EPC regulations, our team is ready to help.