Energy efficiency is the compliance topic landlords tend to push down the list, because the deadline sounds distant and the rules keep moving. The government has now published its formal response, and the headline is firm: every privately rented home needs to reach the new EPC C standard by 1 October 2030. What is not settled is how that standard will be measured, and the law to enforce it has yet to be passed. This edition separates what is confirmed from what is still open, so you can plan without overspending.
The Rule Today
The current minimum is EPC band E. It has applied to new lettings since 1 April 2018 and to all existing tenancies since 1 April 2020. Letting a non-compliant property can bring a penalty of up to £5,000 per property. There is also a cost cap on the work you are expected to carry out: £3,500 including VAT under the current regime, according to one guide. Nothing in the 2030 plan changes the E rule until the new law is in place, so keep your properties compliant with it now.
What the Government Has Confirmed
The government’s published response sets out these decisions:
One deadline: 1 October 2030, for all tenancies. The earlier idea of an earlier date for new tenancies has been dropped.
A £10,000 cost cap per property. This is down from the £15,000 floated in 2025. Third-party funding counts towards it, except Boiler Upgrade Scheme grants. Relevant work installed since 1 October 2025 can count, as can the reasonable cost of the EPC assessments.
Penalties of up to £30,000 per property, per breach, issued by local authorities, who begin enforcing in 2030. False or misleading entries on the exemptions register can also be fined.
A new way of measuring. Homes must meet a primary fabric performance standard, then a second standard on either smart readiness or heating system, at the landlord’s choice. The government’s target is EPC C on the new EPC metrics.
Existing EPC C ratings are protected for now. A home rated C or higher under the current method before 1 October 2029 counts as compliant until that EPC expires or is replaced.
Two EPCs for any work. Landlords must commission a new EPC before carrying out works and another after completion, before the 2030 deadline.
What Is Still Open
This is where headlines run ahead of the facts:
The law has not been passed. The government says it needs primary legislation first, then secondary legislation to set the cap, the fines and the metrics. It is aiming for the secondary rules to come into force in 2027.
The exact definition of “C” is unsettled. It depends on final decisions on EPC reform and the Home Energy Model. Several guides expect the new model in the second half of 2027, and the dates vary between sources.
Heating matters more under the proposal. One guide reports that a gas boiler would not reach C on the heating route, while a heat pump or solar with smart readiness could. Treat that as likely direction, not a final rule.
A portfolio exemption for larger landlords is only being “explored”.
Short-term lets and agent advertising duties are not in scope for now, but both are under review.
Exemptions
The response confirms a set of exemptions, which landlords must register with evidence. These include:
The cost cap exemption: you have spent up to the cap and the next measure would exceed it. Valid for 10 years.
The property value adjustment: for homes valued under £100,000, the cap is 10% of the value. Valid for 10 years.
Negative impacts: where measures would harm the building. Valid for 10 years.
Solid wall insulation: you can decline it where it is the only remaining fabric measure.
New landlord grace period: six months after buying a let property.
Third-party consent: for example a freeholder, lender or planning authority refusing permission.
Exemptions are recorded on the PRS Exemptions Register and generally don’t transfer when the property is sold.
What This Means for You
If your properties are already at C: check the date on each EPC. If it is rated C or higher before 1 October 2029, you are covered until that certificate expires, but a re-test under the new system could change the band. Keep the paperwork.
If you are at D or E: you have time, but not unlimited time. The £10,000 cap is an average-cost problem, not a “get it all done” deadline. Government estimates put the average spend at about £5,400.
If you are at F or G: you are already below the current legal minimum for most lettings unless an exemption is registered. Fix that first.
What to Do Now
List every property with its EPC rating, date and expiry. This is the same first job that comes up in every compliance area.
Fix F and G properties first. They are the ones at risk today.
Look at the cheap measures that appear on most EPC recommendations: loft insulation, draught-proofing and heating controls.
Keep receipts. Spending since 1 October 2025 may count towards the cost cap, so keep invoices and dates.
Don’t buy a heat pump or solar because of a headline. Wait for the final definition of C before committing to large works.
Check grants. One guide says ECO4 closes on 31 December 2026, so ask your installer what is still available.
Watch for the 2027 legislation. That is when the cap, fines and metrics become law.
Bottom Line
EPC C by 1 October 2030 is the confirmed direction, with a £10,000 cap and fines of up to £30,000. But the legal definition of C, the final law and the full list of exemptions are still being settled. The sensible move is to know your portfolio, remove F and G ratings, do the cheap measures, keep your receipts and hold off on expensive decisions until the rules are final.
Know a landlord who thinks EPC C is someone else’s problem? Forward this on.
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Next edition: Tuesday 3 November, with another essential compliance update for UK landlords.
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