An Energy Performance Certificate has been a basic letting requirement for years. What is changing is the minimum rating you are allowed to let at, and the timeline is now close enough that landlords need a plan.
This guide covers the rules as they stand in 2026, the move to a minimum EPC C, and what the 2028 and 2030 deadlines actually mean.
The rules today
Every rented property in England must have a valid EPC, and it must be rated E or above under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards, known as MEES. A property rated F or G cannot legally be let unless you have registered a valid exemption.
- An EPC is valid for 10 years
- You must give your tenant a copy at the start of the tenancy
- The current minimum lettable rating is E
Penalty today: up to £5,000 per property for letting below the minimum standard without a valid exemption.
What is changing: the move to EPC C
The government has confirmed it will raise the minimum standard for privately rented homes to the equivalent of EPC C. Under its late-2025 response on improving the energy performance of privately rented homes, the timeline is staged:
- From 2028: the higher standard applies to new tenancies. A new tenancy includes letting to a new tenant, or renewing or extending a contract with an existing tenant
- By 1 October 2030: all existing tenancies must also meet the standard
How much will it cost?
Landlord spending to reach the standard will be capped at £10,000 per property. Government modelling suggests the typical property will need somewhere between roughly £6,100 and £6,800 of work, though this varies widely with the age and condition of the building. Where a property cannot reach the standard within the cost cap, an exemption route is expected to apply.
What should landlords do now?
- Check your current EPC rating and its expiry date. If you are at D or below, you are in scope for upgrade work
- Get a retrofit assessment or quotes early, tradespeople will be in high demand as 2028 approaches
- Prioritise properties where a tenancy is likely to renew after 2028, since new tenancies are captured first
- Keep your EPC and any improvement records together, you may need to evidence compliance or an exemption
Improvements that commonly move a rating up include loft and cavity wall insulation, a more efficient boiler or a heat pump, double glazing, and low-energy lighting.
Why this matters beyond the fine
Since the Renters' Rights Act 2025 came into force on 1 May 2026, enforcement of housing standards has tightened and Section 21 no-fault eviction has been abolished. Compliance evidence, including energy standards, now carries more weight than it used to. Planning EPC upgrades early is cheaper and less disruptive than reacting to a deadline.
At a glance
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Current minimum | EPC E |
| New tenancies | EPC C from 2028 |
| All tenancies | EPC C by 1 October 2030 |
| Cost cap | Up to £10,000 per property |
| EPC validity | 10 years |
| Penalty today | Up to £5,000 for letting below minimum |
See how EPC fits with your other obligations in the UK landlord compliance checklist, or work out your renewal dates with the certificate renewal calculator.