The government will require every rental property in England and Wales to have an Energy Performance Certificate rating of C or above by 2030. That is 3.2 million homes currently rated D or below, about a third of the private rented sector. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero confirmed the target in a consultation response last month, as reported by Property118. The policy survived a legal challenge from landlord groups last year and now faces a fresh round of parliamentary scrutiny.
Who qualifies, and who doesn’t
The obligation applies to new tenancies from 2028 and all tenancies by 2030. But exemptions exist. Landlords can claim a cost cap exemption if the necessary work exceeds £10,000 including VAT, a figure last updated in 2018. Listed buildings and properties in conservation areas can also apply for exemptions if specific upgrades would harm the building’s character. The catch is that exemptions last only five years and must be registered on the national PRS Exemptions Register. Renewal is not automatic.
What it costs a typical 3-bed semi
Energy Saving Trust data suggests a typical D-rated semi-detached house needs around £8,000–£12,000 of work to reach C. That usually means cavity wall insulation (£1,500–£3,000), loft insulation top-up (£500–£1,000), double glazing where missing (£4,000–£7,000), and possibly a new boiler or heat pump (£4,000–£7,000). The government’s own impact assessment estimates the average cost at £8,800 per property. Landlords can claim up to £5,000 under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme for a heat pump, but that still leaves a gap. The cost cap exemption of £10,000 means some landlords will simply do nothing and claim the exemption.
What this misses, the enforcement gap
The policy has a hole. Local authorities are responsible for enforcement, but most have fewer than two dedicated energy-efficiency officers. The government says it will fund extra training, but has not announced a specific budget. Meanwhile, the PRS Exemptions Register, the database that should catch fraudulent claims, is not yet built. Officials say it will be ready by 2027. Until then, tenants have no easy way to check whether a landlord’s exemption is genuine. Citizens Advice reported 1,200 cases last year where tenants lived in properties rated F or G, the worst two bands, and their landlords had not applied for an exemption.
What tenants and landlords should do now
If you rent, check your EPC rating on the gov.uk EPC register. If it is below C and your tenancy started after 2028, your landlord is legally required to act. You can also apply for a Green Homes Grant voucher, the replacement scheme for the scrapped 2020 programme, if your landlord agrees to the work. Landlords should commission an EPC assessment now, not in 2029. The assessment identifies the cheapest route to C, and many upgrades, loft insulation, draught-proofing, pay back within three years through lower bills. The deadline is fixed. The exemption register is not. That gap will cause problems, but the direction of travel is clear: C or above, or exit the market.
Frequently Asked Questions
Currently no. The 2030 target applies to the property, not the tenancy. But if your landlord cannot legally let the property after 2030, they may choose to sell or convert to a holiday let. Tenants in properties below EPC C after 2030 will have grounds to complain to the local authority, which can issue a penalty of up to £30,000.
Yes, but on a different timeline. Social housing must reach EPC C by 2035, with an interim target of C for all new tenancies from 2030. The government is consulting on whether to bring the social housing deadline forward to 2030 to match the private rented sector.
