The rules today: band E
- Since 1 April 2020, you can’t let or continue to let a covered property rated F or G, unless it has a valid exemption.
- If it’s rated F or G, you must improve it to E, or register an exemption, before a new tenancy, or straight away if it’s already let.
- The cost cap is £3,500 including VAT. If you can’t reach E for that, make all the improvements you can up to £3,500, then register an “all improvements made” exemption.
- Improvements made since 1 October 2017 count towards the £3,500.
A property is covered if it’s let on a relevant tenancy and legally needs an EPC. GOV.UK’s guidance has the full test and the list of exemptions.
What’s coming: band C by 1 October 2030
In its January 2026 response, the government set out these decisions:
- a single compliance date of 1 October 2030 for the new standard
- the cost cap rising to £10,000, with exemptions lasting 10 years
- homes with a current EPC of C or above, issued before 1 October 2029, treated as compliant until that EPC expires
- a new two-part standard, and more exemptions than today
These are decisions on policy, not law yet: regulations still have to be made. We’ll update this guide and our law updates when they are.
What to do now
- Check each property’s current rating and expiry date on the EPC register.
- If a property is D or below, look at the EPC’s recommendations and what they’d cost before 2030 gets close.
- A C rating on an EPC issued before 1 October 2029 counts until that EPC expires, so getting to C sooner buys time.
- The PRS database asks for evidence of each property’s EPC.