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.
Written by The PropCert team
PropCert builds certificate tracking for UK landlords. Every guide is checked against the primary source, gov.uk, HSE, or the legislation itself.
This guide is general information about landlord obligations in England, not legal advice. Where a decision turns on your specific circumstances, check the primary source or take advice.