An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is essentially a health check for your property’s energy efficiency. Since 2008, it has been a legal requirement to have one whenever you build, sell, or let a property in the UK.
But what does it actually measure, and how do the recent changes to the new EPC rules for landlords affect your responsibilities? Here is everything you need to know.
Don’t let an expired certificate block your tenancies. Get a proper assessment today to stay compliant and protect your income. Get Your EPC Today
Everything you need to know about EPCs
Before diving into the legalities, it’s important to understand what an EPC certificate actually represents and the practical steps involved in obtaining one for your property.
What does an EPC actually measure?
An EPC gives your property an energy efficiency rating from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). It measures two main things:
- Energy efficiency: How much it costs to run the property (heating, lighting, and hot water).
- Environmental impact: The property’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
The assessment looks at the “fabric” of the building (things like loft insulation, wall construction, and double glazing) as well as the heating systems and lighting.
How can I get an EPC?
Obtaining an EPC is straightforward. You must use an accredited energy assessor to visit the property and perform the inspection. We’ve teamed up with the best assessors across the UK to provide a service that is both quick and affordable for our landlords.
Who pays for the EPC assessment?
It’s always the landlord’s responsibility to pay for the EPC. You must provide a copy of the certificate to any prospective tenant free of charge as soon as they express an interest in the property. You cannot pass this cost on to the tenant.
Current EPC rules and compliance
While the long-term targets are shifting, you must still adhere to the existing standards and administrative requirements to ensure your tenancies remain lawful.
The current legal standard (MEES)
In 2018, the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) was introduced. Currently:
- All rental properties in England and Wales must have an EPC rating of at least E.
- If your property is rated F or G, you are legally prohibited from letting it out unless you have a valid exemption.
Are the EPC rules for landlords changing?
Yes. The government’s 2026 Warm Homes Plan has officially raised the bar for the private rented sector. While the legal minimum is currently EPC E, all rental properties in England and Wales must reach EPC Band C by 1st October 2030.
The phased rollout has been scrapped in favour of a single deadline for all tenancies, meaning no property is exempt from the 2030 cutoff. To help you plan, the government has capped required spending at £10,000, with a lower cap for homes valued under £100,000.
Check out our full guide on the new EPC rules for landlords to see how the new dual-metric standards and £30,000 fines affect you.
You might also be interested in…
- Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs): The 2026 Guide for Landlords
- What Are the New EPC Rules for Landlords? Coming in 2030
- EICR Explained: Electrical Safety Certificates for Landlords
- How to Rent Directly From a Landlord and Get It Right
- How to Serve a Section 8 Notice
Do I need to renew an EPC during a tenancy?
You don’t need to renew an EPC if you have the same tenants in situ and the tenancy agreement remains unchanged. You only need a fresh one when:
- You plan to market the property for new tenants.
- The current EPC has expired (they last 10 years).
- You’ve made improvements (like a new boiler or insulation) and want to reflect a better rating.
Do I need an EPC for an HMO or an individual room let?
This is a common point of confusion.
- Self-contained flats/houses: Always need an EPC.
- Individual rooms: If you are letting out individual rooms with shared facilities (like a kitchen or bathroom), you generally do not need a separate EPC for each room. However, you will still need one for the building as a whole if you ever sell it or let it out to a single group on one contract.
When is an EPC not required?
If the property has a low energy rating, and the landlord believes the property cannot be improved to meet the minimum E rating, they can apply for an exemption from the MEES regulations.
Registering for an exemption is free for landlords, but as a part of this process, you must submit evidence proving the reason for the exemption.
- Various types of exemptions include:
- ‘High cost’ exemption
- ‘7 year payback’ exemption
- ‘All improvements made’ exemption
- ‘Wall insulation’ exemption
- ‘Consent’ exemption
- ‘Devaluation’ exemption
- ‘New landlord’ exemption
In line with the current regulations, some properties may be exempt from EPC regulations if the cost for upgrades to meet the requirements goes beyond £3,500.
EPCs only last 10 years and are often forgotten until a move-in date is looming. Get a new one today and tick it off your list for another decade. Order an EPC Assessment
Enforcement and support
Navigating the various rules can be a headache, but understanding the potential penalties for non-compliance (and the financial help available to avoid them) must be on every landlord’s list.
Can landlords be fined for not having an EPC?
Yes, and the penalties are getting steeper. Currently, local authorities can fine you up to £5,000 for failing to have a valid EPC. However, under the new EPC rules for landlords coming into force for the 2030 deadline, fines for non-compliance are set to rise to a maximum of £30,000 per property.
Can I evict a tenant if I don’t have a valid EPC?
No. This is a massive pitfall. Under current rules, you cannot serve a Section 21 notice (a “no-fault” eviction) if you failed to provide the tenant with a valid EPC at the start of their tenancy. Even if the property is energy efficient, the administrative failure to hand over the paperwork can block your ability to regain possession of the property.
What financial assistance is the government offering?
Improving a property’s efficiency is a smart long-term move, but we know the costs for insulation or new heating systems can quickly mount up. To help take the sting out of the initial investment, there are several key schemes available to landlords in 2026:
- Warm Homes: Local Grant: This is the flagship scheme for the new EPC rules for landlords. If your tenants are on a low income or live in certain postcodes, you could receive full funding for your first property and a 50% contribution towards others.
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS): You can access a £7,500 grant to swap an old fossil fuel boiler for a low-carbon heat pump. This doesn’t count towards your £10,000 cost cap, making it a powerful way to protect your budget.
- ECO4 and GBIS: These programmes (running until March 2026) focus on insulation and heating upgrades for households in or at risk of fuel poverty.
- 0% VAT: Don’t forget that the zero-rate of VAT on energy-saving materials like loft insulation and heat pumps is locked in until March 2027, offering an immediate saving on every invoice.
It’s also well worth getting in touch with your local council. Many have their own localised pots of funding (often called LA Flex) specifically for landlords who are helping to improve the local housing stock.
