The minimum EPC rating for a holiday let in the UK is now E (and will become C for new lets by 2028)
If you own a holiday let in England or Wales, you need to know the current and upcoming energy performance rules. Since April 2020, all new tenancies for holiday lets have required a minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of E. This is set by the Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012 (DESNZ, 2026).
The minimum EPC rating for a holiday let in England and Wales is E now, rising to C for new lets from 1 April 2028. Existing lets in place before that date have until 1 April 2030 to reach C. Short-term lets under 4 months or 140 days a year are exempt.
- Minimum EPC rating for holiday lets is E from April 2020.
- New holiday lets must reach C rating by 1 April 2028.
- Existing lets in place before April 2028 have until 2030 for C.
- Lets let under 4 months or 140 days a year are exempt.
- Upgrading from E to C typically costs £8,000 to £15,000.
- The minimum EPC rating for a holiday let in the UK is now E (and will become C for new lets by 2028)
- Holiday let EPC rules – what the E and C thresholds actually mean in cost and energy terms
- Quick numbers – EPC ratings and holiday let compliance costs
- The direct answer holiday let EPC rules require an E rating now and a C rating from 2028
- How to check if your holiday let is exempt from EPC rules
- How to verify your holiday let installer is MCS-certified (heat pumps) or Gas Safe registered (boilers)
- The cost of upgrading a holiday let from EPC E to C – what grants are available
The direct answer is that the minimum EPC rating for a holiday let is E now, but from 1 April 2028, all new holiday let tenancies will require a minimum rating of C. Existing holiday lets in place before 1 April 2028 have until 1 April 2030 to reach a C rating (DESNZ, 2026).
There is an important exception. Holiday lets that are let for fewer than four months a year or on short-term bookings totalling fewer than 140 days are exempt from the EPC requirement entirely (GOV.UK, 2026). In Scotland, there is no separate holiday-let-specific EPC minimum. The same E rating requirement applies as for all rented domestic properties (Scottish Government, 2026).
Holiday let EPC rules – what the E and C thresholds actually mean in cost and energy terms
An EPC rating is measured in Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) points. An E rating corresponds to 39–54 SAP points, while a C rating is 69–80 SAP points (DESNZ, 2012). Moving from an E to a C typically requires a combination of loft insulation topped up to 270mm, cavity wall insulation, and a modern A-rated gas boiler or heat pump (Energy Saving Trust, 2026).
The typical cost to upgrade a three-bedroom holiday let from E to C is estimated at £8,000 to £15,000 (Energy Saving Trust, 2026). Annual energy bill savings from such an upgrade are typically £300 to £600 (Ofgem, 2026). These figures assume the property is a typical three-bedroom home based on ONS housing stock data.
Quick numbers – EPC ratings and holiday let compliance costs
| Item | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum EPC rating for new holiday let (current) | E | DESNZ |
| Minimum EPC rating for new holiday let (from 1 April 2028) | C | DESNZ |
| Cost to upgrade E to C (three-bedroom holiday let) | £8,000–£15,000 | Energy Saving Trust |
| Annual energy bill saving from E to C | £300–£600 | Ofgem |
| Exemption – short lets (<4 months/year or <140 days) | No EPC required | GOV.UK |
The direct answer holiday let EPC rules require an E rating now and a C rating from 2028
The single most important rule is that from 1 April 2028, you cannot let a holiday property in England or Wales with an EPC rating below C (DESNZ, 2026). There is no grace period for new lets after that date. You must have a valid EPC certificate showing a C or higher before the first tenant moves in (DESNZ, 2026).
Existing holiday lets that were in place before 1 April 2028 get until 1 April 2030 to comply (DESNZ, 2026). The only permanent exemption is for holiday lets that are let for fewer than four months a year or on short-term bookings totalling fewer than 140 days (GOV.UK, 2026). How to check if your holiday let is exempt from EPC rules
How to check if your holiday let is exempt from EPC rules
A holiday let is exempt from EPC requirements if it is let for fewer than four months in any 12-month period, or if the total number of days it is let is fewer than 140 in any 12-month period (GOV.UK, 2026). This exemption applies only to the EPC requirement itself. The property must still meet all other building regulations and fire safety standards (GOV.UK, 2026).
If your property is exempt, you do not need to register an exemption with any central database. However, you must be able to demonstrate the letting pattern if challenged (GOV.UK, 2026). If your property is not exempt and you let it without a valid EPC, you face a penalty of up to £5,000 per property (DESNZ, 2026).
How to verify your holiday let installer is MCS-certified (heat pumps) or Gas Safe registered (boilers)
For a heat pump installation to count toward your EPC rating, the installer must be MCS-certified (MCS Register, 2026). For a gas boiler replacement, the installer must be Gas Safe registered (Gas Safe Register, 2026). You can check an installer’s MCS certification online at the MCS Register (mcsregister.com) by searching by company name or postcode (MCS Register, 2026).
You can check a Gas Safe engineer’s registration online at the Gas Safe Register (gassaferegister.co.uk) by searching by engineer name or licence number (Gas Safe Register, 2026). If you use a non-certified installer for a heat pump or boiler, the installation will not be recognised for EPC purposes. It may also invalidate any manufacturer warranty (MCS Register, 2026).
The cost of upgrading a holiday let from EPC E to C – what grants are available
The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) offers free or subsidised loft and cavity wall insulation to low-income households. Holiday let owners may qualify if they live in the property for part of the year (Ofgem, 2026). The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) offers a £7,500 grant from 1 April 2026 toward the cost of an air-source heat pump. This can improve an EPC rating (DESNZ, 2026).
Local authority discretionary grants, such as through the Home Upgrade Grant or Sustainable Warmth programme, may cover insulation and heating upgrades in off-gas-grid holiday lets (DESNZ, 2026). The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) provides free insulation and heating upgrades to low-income households. Holiday let owners who live in the property for part of the year may be eligible (Ofgem, 2026).
There is no specific grant for holiday let EPC upgrades. All available funding is means-tested or property-location-based (GOV.UK, 2026). How to check if you qualify for ECO4 or GBIS
Frequently Asked Questions
The minimum EPC rating for a holiday let in England and Wales is E. From 1 April 2028 new lets will need a C rating, and existing lets must reach C by 1 April 2030 (DESNZ, 2026).
Yes, holiday lets let for fewer than four months a year or on short-term bookings totalling under 140 days are exempt from the EPC requirement (GOV.UK, 2026).
In Scotland there is no separate holiday-let-specific EPC minimum. The same E rating requirement applies as for all rented domestic properties (Scottish Government, 2026).
The typical cost to upgrade a three-bedroom holiday let from E to C is £8,000 to £15,000 (Energy Saving Trust, 2026). Annual energy bill savings are typically £300 to £600 (Ofgem, 2026).
An EPC E rating corresponds to 39–54 SAP points, while a C rating is 69–80 SAP points (DESNZ, 2012).
