EPCs for Private Landlords

Every private rented property in England and Wales needs a valid Energy Performance Certificate before it can be marketed to tenants. Today it must reach at least band E. From 2030 the government intends to raise that to band C.

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This page sets out what the law requires now, what is coming, and what it costs to get it wrong. It is written for landlords with a single property and for portfolio landlords with a few hundred.

Do I need an EPC to let my property?

Yes. There are four obligations, and they apply whether you let one flat or a portfolio:

Before marketing. An EPC must be available before the property is advertised to let. If you do not already hold one, you must commission it — the requirement is to have ordered it and either paid, or given a clear undertaking to pay. It should be in place within seven days of first marketing; where that genuinely is not possible, a further 21 days is allowed, provided you can show reasonable efforts are being made.
To the tenant. A copy must be given free of charge to any prospective tenant at the earliest opportunity.
Ten-year validity. An EPC lasts ten years. There is no annual renewal, but you will need a new one if you make improvements and want the better rating reflected — and a rating that reflects the improvement is worth having ahead of the 2030 standard.
On renewal or change of tenancy. If the certificate has expired, order a new one rather than relying on the old rating.

An existing tenancy does not exempt you. The requirement covers all relevant tenancies, not just new ones.

The legal minimum today: band E

The Domestic Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard Regulations (MEES) have required a minimum of band E since 1 April 2020, when the rules extended to properties already let as well as new tenancies. The earlier date of 1 April 2018 applied only to new tenancies and renewals, which is where much of the confusion on this point comes from.

A property rated F or G cannot be let, and cannot continue to be let, unless a valid exemption is registered on the PRS Exemptions Register.

What it costs to get it wrong

Local authorities enforce the regulations. They can serve a compliance notice, and where a breach is confirmed they can impose a financial penalty per property and per breach:

Breach	Maximum penalty
Letting a non-compliant property for less than three months	Up to £2,000
Letting a non-compliant property for three months or more	Up to £4,000
False or misleading information on the Exemptions Register	Up to £1,000

The authority may also publish details of the breach for at least twelve months, which is often the more damaging outcome commercially. A compliance notice can be served up to twelve months after a suspected breach, and a penalty up to eighteen months after it.

Exemptions and the cost cap

You are not required to spend more than £3,500 including VAT to reach band E. If the property cannot get there for that amount, you install the measures that can be installed within the cap and register an ‘all relevant improvements made’ exemption. Improvements made since 1 October 2017 count towards the cap.

Exemptions last five years and are registered on the PRS Exemptions Register. Other grounds include the improvement requiring third-party consent that cannot be obtained, and the improvement devaluing the property by more than 5% — the latter needing a report from an independent RICS-registered surveyor.

Section 21 has gone: where the EPC fits now

Until 1 May 2026 a landlord could end an assured shorthold tenancy without giving a reason, using a Section 21 notice. That route closed on that date. The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 abolished assured shorthold tenancies, and every assured tenancy is now periodic, with rent periods of a month or less.

Possession now runs entirely through the grounds in Schedule 2 to the Housing Act 1988. The two grounds most landlords reach for both require the tenancy to have started at least a year before proceedings: Ground 1 where you or a close family member need the property as a principal home, and Ground 1A where you intend to sell.

This matters if you have read advice telling you that a missing or expired EPC will defeat a possession claim. That was a condition attached to the Section 21 notice, and the notice no longer exists. The EPC duty itself has not been relaxed in any way — the requirement to have a valid certificate before marketing, and to give a copy to the tenant, is unchanged, and letting below band E is still unlawful. A tenant who is unhappy about the rating can go to the local authority whether or not you are seeking possession.

In practice the certificate is the cheapest evidence you hold. It dates the rating, it lists the recommended measures, and it is the document you will be asked for when the property is sold, re-let or measured against the 2030 standard.

What changes in 2030: band C

Not yet law. The government has published its decision to raise the standard, but the regulations are not in force. Treat the dates below as policy, not as a current obligation.

The government has confirmed it will raise the minimum standard for privately rented homes in England and Wales to the equivalent of band C by 1 October 2030. The published decisions are:

A single compliance date of 1 October 2030, rather than a phased introduction.
A dual-metric standard: a fabric performance standard first, then landlord discretion to meet either a heating system standard or a smart readiness standard.
The cost cap rising to £10,000, with exemptions valid for ten years rather than five.
Properties already at band C are recognised as compliant until the EPC expires. That includes homes graded C or above against the Energy Efficiency Rating on EPCs issued before 1 October 2029.
More exemptions, with existing ones amended.
Short-term lets are out of scope of the PRS regulations, pending further engagement.

Implementation requires an Act of Parliament to create the powers, and a statutory instrument which the government aims to bring into force in 2027.

What to do about it now

Nothing in the 2030 standard obliges you to act today, but the cost cap means a property that needs work is usually better done in stages than in a single financial year. Two practical steps:

If an EPC is due to expire before 2030, get the certificate reissued after any improvements rather than letting the old rating stand. A current band C certificate counts under the proposed rules until it expires.
Read your EPC’s recommendation report before commissioning work. It ranks measures by cost and by the rating they would achieve, and the rating is cumulative — the order matters.

What an EPC costs

Domestic EPCs start at £45 for a standard house or flat. The price depends on the size and type of property and on location, and is confirmed before booking, so there is no call-out surprise. We cover the whole of the UK, with same-day and 24-hour turnaround available in most areas.

If your property has gas appliances you will also need an annual Landlord Gas Safety Certificate. The EPC can usually be booked alongside it for a single visit — see our energy advice for what else a rental property needs. The fixed wiring also needs an EICR every five years.

Where we assess the most rented flats

These are the districts that produced the most flat assessments in our order history, and where the conversion, mansion-block and electric-heating points above come up most often.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an EPC to rent out my property?

Yes. A valid Energy Performance Certificate must be available before the property is marketed to tenants, and a copy given free of charge to any prospective tenant at the earliest opportunity. The certificate is valid for 10 years.

What is the minimum EPC rating for a rented property?

Band E. Since 1 April 2020 landlords cannot let or continue to let a domestic property in England or Wales with a rating of F or G unless a valid exemption is registered on the PRS Exemptions Register.

What is the fine for renting a property with a poor EPC?

A local authority can impose a financial penalty of up to £2,000 for a breach lasting less than three months, and up to £4,000 where it lasted three months or more. It can also publish details of the breach for at least 12 months. Providing false information on the exemptions register attracts up to £1,000.

How much does a landlord EPC cost?

Domestic EPCs start at £45 for a standard house or flat, with the price depending on property size and location. Use the online quote form for an exact, fixed price before you book.

Will I need a band C EPC by 2030?

The government has confirmed its intention to raise the minimum to the equivalent of band C from 1 October 2030, but the regulations are not yet in force. The enabling powers require an Act of Parliament, with a statutory instrument expected to come into force in 2027.

Can I end a tenancy because I want to sell?

Section 21 notices ended on 1 May 2026. You now need a ground under Schedule 2 to the Housing Act 1988. Ground 1A covers selling, but it only becomes available once the tenancy has run at least a year.

Does an existing tenancy exempt me from needing an EPC?

No. The requirement applies to all relevant tenancies, not only new ones. If you have not already provided an EPC to your tenant, you should do so now.

Next steps

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Sources: GOV.UK, Domestic private rented property: minimum energy efficiency standard — landlord guidance; GOV.UK, Improving the energy performance of privately rented homes: 2025 update (government response); Renters’ Rights Act 2025, ss. 1–3 and Sch. 1 (legislation.gov.uk). Regulations and guidance change — this page reflects the position in October 2026.