NHC responds to Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards consultation

The Northern Housing Consortium has submitted its response to the Government’s consultation on the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES). Our response reflects the leadership shown by northern housing providers, with 62% of social housing homes in the North already meeting EPC C – delivering warmer homes, lower energy bills, and supporting the growth of the green supply chain.

We’ve made the case for a fabric performance metric to be the sole requirement by 2030. This is the only practical option that aligns with the reality of the existing supply chain and can be implemented within existing business plans. It would provide a solid foundation for future enhancements, such as heating system upgrades and smart readiness metrics, without risking unintended consequences like increased exemptions or reduced resident benefit.

Members were clear: we want to continue driving progress toward Net Zero. But to do so effectively, MEES must be designed with the realities of our sector in mind. It cannot be treated in isolation. Instead, it must be part of a joined-up approach alongside other proposed regulations such as the Decent Homes Standard and Awaab’s Law. We’ve emphasised the need to understand how these standards interact. And we’ve stressed it’s important to consider how providers can implement these standards simultaneously and efficiently, what the overall costs will be, balanced with rental income and grants, and the trade off with building new social housing, a key Government objective.

We’ve also called for urgent clarity on all related legislation, particularly the new EPC assessment criteria. Certainty is essential for planning and delivering work programmes that meet both regulatory requirements and residents’ needs.

Importantly, we support the proposed 10-year, £10,000 spend exemption. This is essential for our members in the North where we have lower rents and property values. Time-limited concessions based on cost are essential to avoid loss of social housing or uneconomic investment in hard-to-treat properties that would breach value-for-money criteria from the Social Housing Regulator.

We will continue to work with government and stakeholders to ensure that MEES supports our shared goals, delivering high-quality, energy-efficient homes for residents across the North.

Northern Housing Consortium Chief Executive Tracy Harrison said:

“The social housing sector in the North is leading the way with energy efficiency, with 62 per cent of social housing homes meeting the current EPC C. Our members are committed to continuing this journey towards Net Zero.

“To support our members to efficiently implement the new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards, and other new housing quality legislation including the new Decent Homes Standard and Awaab’s Law, the requirements must be co-ordinated to address any discrepancies. Confirmation of all directly related legislation and standards, such as the new EPC assessment criteria, is also needed as soon as possible to allow providers to plan their work programmes.

“In our consultation response, we argued that a fabric performance metric by 2030 is the only practical option that reflects the reality of the existing supply chain and can be implemented within current business plans. It will provide firm foundations to bring in additional heating system and smart readiness metrics later. Our engagement with social housing providers suggested the cost associated with these other metrics would increase the number of homes which are likely to be exempt, and supply chain issues could hamper roll out.

“We support the proposed 10-year £10,000 spend exemption for homes where it is not economically viable to bring them up to EPC C. Time-limited concessions based on cost are essential to avoid loss of social housing, before replacement homes can be provided, or uneconomic investment in hard-to-treat properties that breaches value-for-money criteria from the Social Housing Regulator. Lower rents and property values in the North mean this a particularly important issue for our members.”

Read the NHC’s response to the MEES consultation.