general

EPC rating rules for landlords: the minimum and what is proposed

EPC rating rules for landlords in England and Wales: the minimum E today, exemptions, penalties, and the Band C by 2030 aim, which is not yet law.

4 min read
Last reviewed 4 November 2026
By Your Property Check team

Part 1 of 9

General information, not advice

This page covers the domestic private rented sector in England and Wales. Scotland has its own energy certificate rules and service. It is general information, not advice, so check the GOV.UK landlord guidance for your tenancy. See our terms. We read the GOV.UK pages on 4 November 2026, and the landlord guidance was last updated on GOV.UK on 5 May 2026. Rules and proposals can change, so recheck before you act.

Part 2 of 9

EPC ratings in one minute

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) gives a property an energy efficiency rating from A (best) to G (worst). GOV.UK says you must have an EPC when you sell or rent out a property, and that an EPC is valid for 10 years. You can look up an existing certificate for a property in England, Wales or Northern Ireland on the GOV.UK find an energy certificate service, and Scotland has a separate service. Our EPC finder and the guide on how to find an EPC show where to look.

Part 3 of 9

What the law requires today

The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) Regulations are the rules in force. GOV.UK says that since 1 April 2020 landlords can no longer let or continue to let properties covered by the regulations if the EPC rating is below E, unless a valid exemption applies. The restriction began for new and renewed tenancies on 1 April 2018 and was extended to all relevant properties on 1 April 2020. In practice that means a rented home rated F or G must be improved, or exempt, before it can be let.

There is also a cost cap. GOV.UK says landlords are not required to spend more than £3,500 including VAT on energy efficiency improvements, and that third-party funding which covers the full cost is not subject to the cap.

Part 4 of 9

Exemptions

An exemption must be registered on the PRS Exemptions Register. GOV.UK lists these types: all relevant improvements made, high cost, wall insulation, third-party consent, property devaluation, and a temporary exemption for someone who has recently become a landlord. Most last 5 years. The temporary exemption lasts 6 months. A third-party consent exemption lasts 5 years, or until the current tenancy ends or is assigned if tenant consent was the issue.

Part 5 of 9

Penalties

GOV.UK sets maximum penalties per property and per breach:

Breach	Maximum penalty
Letting a non-compliant property for less than 3 months	Up to £2,000 and/or publication
Letting a non-compliant property for 3 months or more	Up to £4,000 and/or publication
False or misleading exemption information	Up to £1,000 and/or publication
Failing to comply with a compliance notice	Up to £2,000 and/or publication
Total cap	£5,000 per property

Part 6 of 9

What is proposed, and what is not yet law

GOV.UK says the government has committed to examining a long-term trajectory for privately rented homes, with the aim that as many as possible are upgraded to EPC Band C or equivalent by 2030. It says policy options are being explored following a 2026 consultation, with more information to follow. That is an aim and a consultation, not a legal requirement. Do not treat Band C as law until the regulations are made and published.

Part 7 of 9

Rules and status at a glance

Rule	Status	Date	Source
Minimum EPC rating E to let (England and Wales)	In force	1 April 2018 for new tenancies, 1 April 2020 for all	GOV.UK MEES guidance
£3,500 cost cap including VAT	In force	At the time of checking	GOV.UK MEES guidance
Registered exemptions, mostly 5 years	In force	At the time of checking	GOV.UK MEES guidance
Band C or equivalent by 2030	Aim only, not in force	2030 target, 2026 consultation	GOV.UK MEES guidance

Part 8 of 9

What to do as a landlord

Find the current EPC for each rented home and check the rating and the expiry date.
If a property is rated F or G, take advice on improvements, or on whether an exemption applies, and register any exemption.
Test whether a home could reach a C with our EPC C checker, which is an estimate only.
Read the glossary entry on the MEES Regulations.
Decide whether to improve, keep or sell, using the numbers rather than the headlines.

Part 9 of 9

If the cost of upgrading is too high

Some landlords decide that the improvement cost, the rules and the tax together make selling the better option. That is a personal decision, and nothing in the EPC rules forces a sale.

Our take

Know every certificate expiry date

Our view: the rule that bites today is the minimum E rating, not the Band C aim. A rented home rated F or G must be improved or exempt before it can be let, and penalties are capped at £5,000 per property in total. The common mistake is treating the 2030 aim as law, or losing track of when a certificate runs out.

Landlord CertCheck tracks certificate expiries for Gas, EICR, EPC, PAT and fire, so the dates sit in one place. Your first property is free, then £49.99 a year. Our EPC finder shows the current certificate for an address, and the landlord compliance tracker page has the detail.

Track certificates

Our opinion, drawn from the facts on this page: not advice and not a forecast. We earn from OfferCheck reports and from introducing sellers to cash buyers, so weigh it with that in mind (see our disclosure). We are not authorised or regulated by the FCA.

Questions, answered

Frequently asked questions

What EPC rating must a landlord have?

In England and Wales the minimum is E. GOV.UK says since 1 April 2020 landlords can no longer let or continue to let covered properties rated below E, unless a valid exemption applies.

What are the exemptions from the minimum EPC rating?

GOV.UK lists all relevant improvements made, high cost, wall insulation, third-party consent, property devaluation and a temporary exemption for new landlords. They must be registered, and most last 5 years.

Is EPC Band C by 2030 the law for landlords?

No. GOV.UK says the government aims for as many rented homes as possible to reach Band C or equivalent by 2030, and that policy options are being explored after a 2026 consultation. It is not yet in force.

What are the penalties for a low EPC rating?

GOV.UK gives maximums of up to £2,000 for under 3 months, up to £4,000 for 3 months or more, and a total cap of £5,000 per property, plus penalties for false exemption information or ignoring a compliance notice.

How long is an EPC valid?

GOV.UK says an EPC is valid for 10 years. You must have one when you sell or rent out a property.

Where this comes from

Sources

Last reviewed 4 November 2026 by the Your Property Check team. This page is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. For your own situation, speak to a conveyancing solicitor or another qualified professional.