Before 2007, Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) were never something a landlord or homeowner needed to worry about.
Then, as far back as 2007, nearly 20 years ago, along with a Home Information Pack (HIP), properties in England and Wales that went up for sale needed to have an EPC. A year later, in 2008, when a new tenancy began, landlords had to have an Energy Performance Certificate to advertise the property for let.
But the rules around EPCs and lettings continued to change, with minimum EPC ratings being introduced from 2018 for new or renewed tenancies (i.e., if a property had an F or G rating, it couldn’t be let privately), and from 2020, this ruling applied to all properties. So even if the property was being let out to a tenant, unless it was eligible for an exemption, such as the property being listed and improvements would harm its character, the let would have to end.
Since 2020, there have been various consultations and announcements from the government about where the rules around EPCs and letting a property go next. The key change under constant discussion was that no properties could be let to tenants in the future unless they had an EPC rating of C – unless an exemption applied.
This is a big jump for landlords to take, as the average property EPC rating in England is D, and traditionally, there is a higher proportion of properties in the Private Rented Sector (PRS) that are older versus those owned privately or in the social sector, so the work and cost implications for landlords are high, with average estimates to be £6,100-£6,800 by the government.
Many landlords have been nervous that they wouldn’t be able to achieve an EPC rating of C, practically or financially. And this aim, along with a harsher tax environment for landlords, has meant that the deadline to achieve let homes being a minimum rating of C has yo-yo’d a lot, leaving landlords unsure from one year to the next if and when they needed to get this done.
With the Renters Rights Act changes happening during this time, it’s been a worrying time for some landlords, and, understandably, some have struggled to know whether to retain their let properties or let them go. But the good news is that this uncertainty now seems to be at an end.
Key steps and support to help landlords reach EPC C (or equivalent)
On 7 February 2026, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero published its response to its latest consultation on improving the energy performance of privately rented homes in England and Wales.
And most of the response is better news for landlords than we’ve had in the past:
- A clear deadline to introduce EPC ratings of C is now October 1st 2030
- A more sensible approach to EPC C ratings – with fairer caps on the amount a landlord has to spend to achieve the rating
- Better measurement of a property’s EPC rating
In addition, the approach from the government appears to be one to support landlords to deliver more energy efficient properties, as the new suggestions even take into account that some landlords have already tried to deliver better homes for their tenants.
How will the government help landlords achieve an EPC rating of C?
Improving the energy performance of a property can be complex, especially if the property is pre-Second World War. The government has agreed to provide detailed, clear guidance for landlords, including upgrades they can investigate and, if the landlord has a property that is difficult to improve, which exemptions might apply.
What if landlords have already upgraded their properties to an EPC C rating?
The government is keen to recognise that some landlords have already put in a lot of work to achieve higher energy efficiency ratings for their let homes.
As a result, if a property to let has an EPC rating of C under the current measures before 1st October 2029, it is considered compliant until the EPC is replaced or expires.
Check if you need to commission a new EPC
If you have a property with a D rating or below, you will need to commission a new EPC before carrying out any works and another one after the works to show that you have done everything you can to be compliant.
This could help you qualify for an exemption under the ‘cost cap’ below.
What are the key steps landlords need to take to reach EPC C ratings?
The first step is for a landlord to ensure the property retains heat once it has been heated. This may just require some simple and cost effective measures such as insulation, reducing drafts, and, where necessary, improving windows and doors.
It might be that, for some properties, this approach achieves a C rating; if not, landlords can consider adding smart meters to identify what else needs to be done and consider adding solar panels or other energy efficient measures, which could improve the rating to C.
If these changes struggle to achieve the required rating, the landlord might need to consider improving or replacing the heating system.
What this approach does is give landlords some choice of how they upgrade their properties, and if there is a good enough heating system in place, they aren’t forced to replace it.
What if the costs to improve the rating to an EPC of C are too high?
If the above measures would cost more than £10,000 and the property would still not meet the required C rating, there will be a ‘cost cap exemption’ that can be applied for and, if approved, registered.
What if your tenant won’t allow you to carry out the works required?
In some cases, a landlord might try to make changes, but the tenant doesn’t want them. For example, to help work out what changes you can make to improve energy efficiency in a property, fitting a smart meter is a great first step; however, your tenant may not want one, and, especially if they are the bill payer, this is their choice.
In cases where the tenant doesn’t want landlords to carry out further works, it is possible to apply for a “third-party” exemption.
Overall, after nearly six years of uncertainty about if, how, and when EPC C ratings would apply to the private rented sector, the government has now set out a clearer direction of travel.
Landlords have greater certainty about the 2030 deadline, the £10,000 cost cap, the routes to compliance, and the circumstances in which exemptions apply. While challenges remain, particularly around affordability and delivery, the framework should help landlords plan improvements with more confidence and make informed decisions about their properties over the coming years.
For more help and support on how to achieve an EPC rating of C in your let properties, do contact your lettings experts by calling, emailing, or popping into one of our offices. You can find the contact details for your local branch here
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