Sava’s Response to the MEES Consultation: Improving Energy Efficiency in Social Housing.
The Government’s consultation on Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) for the social rented sector closed on 12th September 2025. This consultation marks an important step towards ensuring all tenants live in warm, comfortable homes, and explores ways to raise energy efficiency standards in the social rented sector to make properties easier to heat, reduce fuel poverty, and cut carbon emissions. At present, socially rented homes have no minimum EPC requirement, with existing rules broadly equivalent to an EPC ‘F’. The proposal is to introduce a minimum standard of EPC Band C (or equivalent) by 2030, in line with plans for the private rented sector.
Sava has submitted a detailed response to this consultation and we now await the outcome. Read a summary of our responses below or view the full consultation response here.
Our response welcomed the Government’s ambition but highlighted several key issues:
- Metrics and Targets: We agree there should be a fabric metric, but a blanket target is not appropriate for the diverse English housing stock. Solid wall and solid floor properties, along with those in conservation areas, are often difficult or disruptive to retrofit. Any metric must therefore strike a balance between ambition and feasibility.
- Resident Costs: While moving away from carbon and SAP rating-based targets avoids reliance on shifting methodologies, a purely performance-based approach risks overlooking fuel costs. Protecting tenants from higher bills must remain central to MEES, especially given the risk that electrification of heating (without microgeneration or storage) could increase energy costs.
- Flexibility in Approach: We support an approach that allows providers to apply the most appropriate metrics (fabric, heating system, or smart readiness) depending on property archetype and tenant circumstances. Backstop values would be needed to prevent poor outcomes, such as weak fabric standards being offset by large PV installations.
- Exemptions: The proposed £10,000 cost cap and 10-year spend exemption risk slowing progress and leaving some tenants with higher fuel bills for too long. We recommend a higher cap, if required, and a shorter exemption period (5–7 years).
- EPCs and Compliance Dates: We support recognising EPC Band C as an interim measure, but only on a time-limited basis. Many providers are already working towards EPC Band C by 2030, and it is important that existing asset management data can be used alongside EPCs to demonstrate compliance.
Sava supports the Government’s aims to improve energy efficiency in the social rented sector, with fabric measures central to the strategy. However, MEES must remain practical, consider the diversity of stock, and most importantly, ensure that tenant fuel bills are reduced rather than increased.
Read our full consultation response in detail here.