EPC C by 2030

It was way back in 2020 when the government launched consultations proposing that all new tenancies in the private rented sector needed to meet EPC Band C as a minimum standard.  Initially, this was to be by 2025, and 2028 for existing tenancies.  It was then scrapped in September 2023, due to the cost of living crisis, only to be brought back to the table in late 2024 by the new Labour government.  Recently, it has been confirmed in the latest MEES update that by 1 October 2030, all rental properties will reach EPC C. With certain exemptions.    

• MEES – Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) set the lowest energy performance level a property must meet before it can be legally let.  
• EPC C – At present, landlords must ensure their rental homes have an EPC rating of at least E, with certain exemptions in limited circumstances. 

Under the latest proposals, MEES are being substantially tightened, and domestic private rented properties will need to reach EPC Band C by 1 October 2030, unless a valid exemption applies. This is part of a wider strategy to cut carbon emissions, tackle fuel poverty and reduce tenants’ energy bills.

The government has now confirmed that all privately rented properties in England and Wales will be required to meet an EPC rating of C by 1 October 2030. 

Current plans include:

• A single ‘backstop’ date of 1 October 2030 for all domestic private rented homes to be at Band C or above, with exemptions.

• An updated cost cap – recent guidance suggests that landlords may be expected to spend up to around £10,000 on improvements before an exemption can be claimed, although there will be adjustments where that figure represents a high proportion of the property’s value.

• A reformed EPC framework, moving towards multiple measurement metrics (including energy use and cost) rather than relying on a single simple rating.  This might change how compliance is assessed in future.

For landlords, this means that the confusion is over, and the days of “this is a good enough EPC” are coming to an end, and that many homes will need to be significantly better insulated than they currently are.

If you wait until the last minute to bring your properties up to EPC C, you may well be making a mistake.  Improving older housing stock to Band C will involve a mix of approaches.  This might include additional insulation, upgraded glazing, more efficient heating systems, or low‑carbon technologies, and each of these can take time to survey, cost, schedule and complete.

There is also the fact that there are only so many contractors able to complete this work, and they usually work according to the laws of supply and demand. If a large number of landlords suddenly engage with the same contractors, surveyors and materials at the last minute, prices and waiting times are almost certain to rise.

Because Urpad operates across England and Wales, we see how different local markets, property types and construction styles respond to the same national regulation.  This means we can help landlords understand not only what the 2030 EPC C target means in theory, but what it is likely to mean in practice for specific towns and buildings

Support can include:

• Reviewing your portfolio EPC data and flagging properties at risk of non‑compliance.

• Coordinating surveys and assessments so you get a realistic view of upgrade options and costs.

• Helping you time works to minimise disruption to tenants and cash flow.

• Ensuring you understand any available exemptions – and the evidence required – if a property genuinely cannot be brought up to standard within the cost cap.

With regulations tightening and 2030 closer than it looks, treating EPC C as a priority rather than a last‑minute hurdle will put you in a far stronger position.

The latest MEES update is not just another piece of red tape; it is a signpost for where the private rented sector is heading –  towards warmer, more efficient, and more resilient homes for tenants, and more future‑proof portfolios for landlords.  Call us, and we can review your properties to work out a plan of attack.