EPC guide
Landlord EPC rules and the 2030 band C plan
EPC rules matter more to landlords than to almost anyone else, because letting a property comes with a legal minimum energy rating — and that minimum is set to rise. This guide covers what you must do today, the exemptions available, and the government's stated plan to move the minimum to band C.
Today: rented homes must usually reach at least EPC band E. Proposed: the government has said it intends to raise the minimum to band C by 2030 — but that legislation is not yet in force.
The rules today: minimum band E
Under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES), it is unlawful to let most domestic properties in England and Wales with an EPC rating below band E, unless you have registered a valid exemption. This has applied to all existing tenancies since April 2020, not just new ones. If your property is rated F or G, you generally cannot continue to let it without either improving it or registering an exemption.
Exemptions
Where you genuinely cannot reach band E, you may be able to register an exemption on the national PRS Exemptions Register. Common grounds include cases where all relevant improvements have been made up to a cost cap and the property still falls short, or where a necessary measure would devalue the property or needs third-party consent that has been refused. Exemptions are neither automatic nor permanent — they must be registered with supporting evidence and renewed.
The proposed move to band C
The government has confirmed it intends to raise the minimum standard for rented homes to EPC band C, with a target date of 1 October 2030, aiming for warmer homes and lower bills for tenants. Importantly, this is a stated intention: at the time of writing the legislation has not been finalised, and the precise dates, cost cap and detail could still change as it passes through Parliament. Treat any specific figure you read as provisional, and check gov.uk for the current position before making big decisions.
What landlords should do now
- Check your current rating. Find your existing EPC and note the score, not just the band — a property near the top of band D needs less work than one near the bottom.
- Plan improvements early. The most cost-effective measures take time to schedule. Our guide on how to improve your EPC rating sets out what lifts the score.
- Keep evidence. Retain invoices and product details for any energy-efficiency work; they support both a re-assessment and any future exemption.
- Re-assess after work. Improvements only count once a new EPC is lodged, so book a fresh assessment when the work is done.