The EPC Jump That Cost Nothing: A Sheffield Case Study

Sometimes the biggest EPC upgrade happens on paper.

This Sheffield unit started at EPC F135 – legally unlettable without upgrades. For any landlord, this is the worst nightmare: a stranded asset, compliance risk hanging over you, and the prospect of delaying or even losing a sale.

3D building model produced in DesignBuilder (DSM)

But with the right approach, we turned the story around instantly. By switching to Level 5 DSM modelling, the rating jumped to D89, unlocking a letting straight away.

At MEES we are always planning into the future and ensuring we are giving our clients smart advice, that they won't find anywhere else. Like producing an in-house projection tool to predict 2026 ratings, saving our clients thousands in unnecessary CapEx. Using our projection tool, we identified that this property could rise further, to an estimated C69 in 2026, without a CapEx injection.

Why this matters

• Avoids unnecessary upgrade costs now

• Cuts future improvement spend

• Removes last-minute compliance panic

• Strengthens sustainability credentials

For landlords and asset managers, that peace of mind is invaluable. Knowing how today’s EPCs will shift in 2026 could be the difference between thousands spent on unnecessary works, and a smooth letting, sale, or refinance with no surprises.

Want to see how your property or portfolio is looking in anticipation of the 2026 Carbon Factor changes? Get in touch with us today.