EPC C by 2030: the new minimum rating for rented homes

Private rented homes in England and Wales must currently have an EPC rating of E or above. The government has confirmed this will rise to C or equivalent by 1 October 2030. The detailed regulations have not been made yet, so some points could still change, but the main numbers are now set.

The rules today: minimum E

Under the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015, explained in the GOV.UK minimum energy efficiency standard guidance for landlords, you cannot let a home with an EPC rating of F or G unless you have a registered exemption. This has applied to all relevant tenancies since 1 April 2020.

The current exemption types are:

• All relevant improvements made but the home is still below E.
• High cost: the cheapest recommended improvement would cost more than £3,500.
• Wall insulation: expert advice says it would damage the property.
• Consent: a third party (such as a freeholder) or the tenant refuses consent.
• Devaluation: the work would reduce the property’s value by more than 5%.
• New landlord: a temporary 6-month exemption in some situations.

What’s confirmed for 2030

The government published its response to the 2025 consultation on 21 January 2026. The main points:

The government estimates the average landlord will spend about £5,400.

Fabric first

The new standard has two parts. The primary standard is about the building’s fabric, meaning how well it keeps heat in (insulation, windows, draught-proofing). The secondary standard is either the heating system or smart readiness. In practice, landlords should expect to look at insulation before anything else.

Existing EPCs

If your property already has an energy efficiency rating of C on an EPC lodged before 1 October 2029, it counts as compliant until that EPC expires. Getting a fresh EPC after improvement work could therefore be worthwhile. See our EPC cost guide.

Third-party funding

Grant money counts towards the £10,000 cap, except Boiler Upgrade Scheme grants, which don’t count. So a heat pump part-funded by the Boiler Upgrade Scheme doesn’t use up your cap with the grant portion.

If you can’t reach C

Spending up to the cap is the key test. If you have spent the cap on suitable measures and the property still falls short, you should be able to register a cost-cap exemption, which under the new rules lasts 10 years. The same applies where the 10% property-value limit is reached first. Keep invoices, EPCs before and after, and any installer reports, as you’ll need evidence when registering.

Exemptions are not automatic. Like today’s exemptions on the PRS Exemptions Register, they will need to be registered, and the exact process will be set out in the 2027 regulations.

Which lets are covered

Today’s rules apply to assured, regulated and domestic agricultural tenancies, where the property is legally required to have an EPC. Short-term holiday lets are not in scope of the 2030 standard for now, though the government says it will keep this under review.

What happens next

• Regulations: secondary legislation is expected to be made and come into force in 2027. Until then, the 2030 rules are policy, not law.
• New EPC format: the reformed EPC in England, with several metrics, has been delayed to the second half of 2027. Existing EPCs stay valid for their 10 years.

Check legislation.gov.uk for the made regulations before committing sums close to the £10,000 cap, as the detail could still change.

Typical improvements and rough costs

What works depends on your property. The recommendations section of your EPC on the GOV.UK EPC register is the best starting point. Typical first steps:

These are indicative figures, not quotes. Prices vary by property and region. Solid-wall insulation, new windows and heat pumps cost much more, which is where the £10,000 cap becomes relevant.

Grants and funding (as of October 2026)

Funding schemes change often. As of October 2026:

• Boiler Upgrade Scheme (England and Wales): private landlords can apply. Grants are £7,500 for an air or ground source heat pump, £5,000 for a biomass boiler and £2,500 for an air-to-air heat pump. An extra £1,500 is available until March 2027 for some off-gas homes heated by oil or LPG. You must be replacing a fossil-fuel system.
• Great British Insulation Scheme: closed on 31 March 2026.
• ECO4: extended to 31 December 2026, then ending. It mainly targets low-income households and the least efficient homes. Ask your council or energy supplier whether your tenants could qualify before it closes.

Grant budgets and rules can change before 1 October 2030, so check eligibility directly with the scheme administrator (Ofgem for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme) before starting work.

Scotland: a separate regime

The England and Wales regulations don’t apply in Scotland. There is currently no minimum EPC rating in force for private lets there.

The Scottish Government consulted in 2025 on draft regulations that would require a reformed-EPC Heat Retention Rating of C: for new tenancies from 2028 and for all private rented homes by the end of 2033. In August 2026 it announced that new-style Scottish EPCs will start on 30 April 2028. It is not yet clear whether the proposed 2028 and 2033 dates will move as a result. Scottish landlords should watch for updates.

Wales

Wales follows the same E minimum today. Rent Smart Wales confirms the standard will be replaced with a higher standard equivalent to EPC C by 1 October 2030.

A sensible plan for landlords

1. Check your current EPC and its expiry date on the EPC register.
2. Read the recommendations and price the cheaper measures first.
3. Keep invoices for any qualifying work from 1 October 2025. They count towards your cap.
4. Book work at tenancy changes or void periods where possible.
5. Get a new EPC once the work is done, especially if it lifts you to C before October 2029.
6. Set a reminder for EPC expiry. Our certificate reminders can help.