EPC C by 2030: what the new minimum energy efficiency rules mean for landlords
Today, a rented home in England or Wales only needs an Energy Performance Certificate rating of E or above to be let legally. That has not changed. But the government has now set out where the bar is going next: EPC C, for every tenancy, from 1 October 2030. The plan was confirmed in the Warm Homes Plan on 21 January 2026, though the regulations that will put it into law have not been laid in Parliament yet, and are not expected until 2027. This guide separates confirmed policy from what is still to come, and what it means for your budget.
This is not the Renters' Rights Act
It is easy to lump every 2026 landlord change together, but this one runs on a separate track. EPC C has nothing to do with the Renters' Rights Act - it updates the existing Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) regime, which has required EPC E since 2020, through the government's own Warm Homes Plan.
What has actually been confirmed
- One deadline for everyone. Earlier proposals gave new tenancies an earlier 2028 target and sitting tenants until 2030. That 2028 date has been dropped - there is now a single cut-off of 1 October 2030, new tenancy or not.
- A lower spending cap. The maximum landlords will be expected to spend on improvements has been cut from a proposed £15,000 to £10,000 per property, reduced further to 10% of value for homes worth under £100,000.
- Past spending counts. Work carried out from 1 October 2025 onward can be counted toward the cap, so improvements made ahead of the deadline are not wasted.
A new way of measuring EPCs is coming too
Alongside the rating change, the government is overhauling how EPCs are calculated - moving from estimated running costs to a new Home Energy Model that scores heat retention, heating system efficiency and whether the property can generate its own energy. A consultation on the detail closed on 18 March 2026, and the new model is expected to become compulsory for new EPCs from 1 October 2029 - a year before the EPC C deadline itself.
That timing matters. A genuine EPC C obtained under the current, more familiar system before 1 October 2029 stays valid and compliant until that certificate expires under its normal validity, which is being extended from 5 years to 10. A property that reaches C in 2027 could stay compliant well into the late 2030s without being reassessed under the new, reportedly stricter model. Properties still below C when the switchover happens will be measured against the new metrics instead.
At a glance
| Situation | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Property already rated C or above today | No action needed yet, but check the EPC's expiry date so a fresh assessment doesn't fall after 1 October 2029 under the new rules |
| Property rated D, achievable to C within the cap | Worth planning now - work done from October 2025 already counts toward the £10,000 cap, and getting there under the current system is likely easier than under the new Home Energy Model |
| Property rated E, F or G, improvements would exceed the cap | Spend up to the cap on the recommended measures, then an exemption is expected to be available, in line with how the current EPC E exemption regime already works |
| Low-value property under £100,000 | Your cap is 10% of the property's value if that is lower than £10,000, not the full £10,000 figure |
| Currently rated F or G | You already need to comply with today's EPC E minimum or hold a valid exemption - this is a live requirement now, separate from the 2030 changes |
What landlords should do now
- Check your current EPC rating and its expiry date and factor that into your planning if it lapses close to 2029 or 2030.
- Prioritise "fabric first" improvements - loft and wall insulation, draught-proofing and better glazing tend to help under both the current system and the proposed Home Energy Model.
- Keep every receipt from October 2025 onward, since spending from that date is expected to count toward the cap.
- If your property is borderline, consider acting before the 2029 switchover - locking in EPC C under the current, better-understood system could be the more predictable route.
- Do not lose sight of today's rules. EPC E is still the live legal minimum - a property rated F or G without a valid exemption is a compliance issue now, not a 2030 one.
It is exactly the kind of longer-horizon date that is easy to lose track of alongside the day-to-day paperwork of moving a new tenant in or keeping on top of repair obligations.
Keep every compliance date in one place
Our Complete Landlord Pack includes a Landlord Compliance Calendar alongside the tenancy agreement and notice templates, so dates like this one do not get lost in the day-to-day.
See the packs →Frequently asked questions
Is EPC C a legal requirement for landlords yet? No. The legal minimum today remains EPC E, in force since 2020. The government confirmed EPC C for all tenancies from 1 October 2030 in the Warm Homes Plan on 21 January 2026, but the regulations that will change the law have not been laid in Parliament, and are not expected until 2027.
How much will landlords have to spend to reach EPC C? The confirmed cost cap is £10,000 per property, down from a proposed £15,000, reduced further to 10% of value for properties worth under £100,000. Money spent on improvements from 1 October 2025 onward counts toward the cap.
What happened to the 2028 deadline for new tenancies? It has been dropped. Earlier proposals gave new tenancies an earlier 2028 target, with sitting tenants given until 2030. There is now a single deadline of 1 October 2030 that applies whether the tenancy is new or the tenant has been in place for years.
Will I need to get a new EPC before 2030? It depends on timing. A genuine EPC C obtained under the current measurement system before 1 October 2029 stays valid until that certificate expires under its normal 10-year validity, even past 2030. EPCs issued from 1 October 2029 onward will use the new Home Energy Model, expected to make a C rating harder to achieve for some properties.
This guide is general information for landlords in England and Wales, not legal or financial advice for your specific circumstances. The EPC C rules described here are confirmed government policy but not yet in force - check GOV.UK for the current legal minimum before making improvement decisions.