Managing MEES Across Portfolios
Why portfolios pose a different challenge
Renewing a single EPC is relatively straightforward: one property, one rating, one report. But when you’re looking after a portfolio, whether 15 sites or 1,500, the complexity escalates.
Suddenly you’re juggling:
EPCs that expired years ago,
Ratings that look “safe” or “risky” on paper but aren’t actually up to date,
Lease events that make timing critical and
Fossil fuel reliance that could derail long-term compliance.
Without a structured approach, it’s easy to lose sight of where the real risks or opportunities lie. Time and again, we see the same hidden pitfalls across large instructions. Some of the most common include:
Expired EPCs – properties legally unlettable but still occupied.
“Safe” Cs that aren’t safe – many may change once 2026 carbon factors are applied.
Gas-fuelled sites – likely to slip a band unless mitigated with Level 5 modelling.
Missed low-cost wins – simple measures (like proving LED coverage or decommissioning redundant gas) that could shift a rating but get overlooked.
Left unchecked, these issues don’t just create compliance headaches. They can delay lettings, stall disposals, or force landlords into unnecessary CapEx spend.
Our portfolio approach
At MEES Solutions, we’ve developed a structured method for handling portfolios — from 15 to 1,500 units. It’s designed to give clarity, foresight, and confidence.
1. Initial Review
We map the portfolio against expiry dates, heating fuels, and key lease events. This tells us where action is urgent and where you have time.
2. Prioritisation
Together, we group buildings into clear categories, for example:
- Tranche 1 – expired EPCs, D or below, or anything due to expire before 2030.
- Tranche 2 – C-rated assets, which need a clear “route to B” ahead of 2030.
3. Detailed Assessment
Every property is assessed at both Level 3/4 (SBEM) and Level 5 (DSM). This ensures the best possible rating is captured and future-proofed against regulatory shifts.
4. Tailored Reporting
Some clients prefer simple Excel trackers; others need data fed directly into internal systems. For large portfolios, we can provide bespoke interfaces, complete with visual graphics showing rating improvements and projected trajectories.
5. Strategic Advice
Alongside EPCs, we provide clear recommendations:
- Projected 2026 ratings,
- Common-sense compliance wins (low/no-cost),
- Smart CapEx options where required (no fabric overhauls here)
- Advice on fossil-fuel replacement strategies.
Case Study
In a recent project, we supported a client with approximately 700 properties rated EPC C or below. By grouping the assets into tranches and projecting future ratings, we provided a clear roadmap:
- Immediate actions to bring expired and low-rated EPCs back into compliance.
- Forward-looking strategies for below-standard assets to ensure a “route to B” by 2030.
- Tailored recommendations that distinguished between genuine CapEx requirements and quick, low-cost fixes.
The result? A portfolio strategy that avoided wasted spend and gave the client confidence in their compliance position today, and for the next decade.
The outcome for clients
By the end of this process, our clients don’t just have EPC certificates. They have:
- A live, dynamic, portfolio-wide view of risk and opportunity.
- Confidence that every building has been modelled at the highest level.
- A strategy that balances low-cost wins with long-term CapEx planning.
- Ongoing support from an expert team that knows the portfolio inside out.
That clarity is why clients stay with us long-term: not for a single EPC, but for the reassurance that the whole portfolio is being managed intelligently.
If you manage a portfolio and want a clear, practical route through MEES compliance, contact us to arrange a free no-obligation portfolio review or strategy meeting.