The 2030 deadline for private landlords to reach EPC C is less than six years away, and the clock is ticking louder than the boiler in a draughty Victorian terrace. An industry body has now called for more government support, warning that the current trajectory leaves thousands of landlords unable to comply, and tenants stuck in cold, expensive homes.
As Property118 reports, the call comes amid growing frustration that the government’s existing schemes, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, are not designed for the private rented sector’s scale or speed.
Who qualifies, and who doesn’t
The EPC C requirement applies to new tenancies from 2025 and all tenancies by 2028 in Scotland, and by 2030 in England and Wales. But the support on offer is patchy. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme gives £7,500 off a heat pump, but only if the property already has decent insulation and a modern heating system, two things many D-rated rentals lack. The Great British Insulation Scheme closed on 31 March 2026. It funded insulation measures only and never covered windows or glazing.
Landlords with a portfolio of older properties, solid walls, no loft access, single glazing, face bills of £10,000 to £20,000 per house. The Energy Saving Trust estimates that bringing a D-rated semi-detached up to C costs between £8,000 and £15,000, depending on fabric and heating. No current grant covers more than a fraction of that.
What this misses
The catch is that the government has set a target without building the delivery system. There are not enough trained installers for heat pumps, not enough surveyors to do the retrofit assessments, and not enough capital available to landlords who already run on thin margins. A landlord with two or three rental properties cannot easily borrow £30,000 for retrofits without a guarantee of higher rent, which tenants cannot afford.
But the alternative is worse. If landlords sell up, the properties often go to owner-occupiers who are not subject to the EPC rules, or to cash buyers who may not upgrade them at all. The net effect: the same leaky homes, still heated by gas, still costing occupants £300–£500 a year more than they should.
What it costs a typical 3-bed semi
Take a typical 1930s three-bed semi in the Midlands, currently rated EPC D (55–68). To reach C (69–80), it typically needs:
- Cavity wall insulation: £500–£1,500
- Loft insulation top-up: £300–£500
- Double glazing (if single): £4,000–£8,000
- New gas boiler or heat pump: £2,500–£7,500 (with grant)
- Draught-proofing and thermostat controls: £200–£500
Total: £7,500 to £18,000. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme covers the heat pump portion, but the rest is on the landlord. For a portfolio of ten such houses, that is £75,000–£180,000, a sum that would wipe out many small landlords’ profit for a decade.
What homeowners can learn from this
Owner-occupiers are not bound by the 2030 deadline, but the same logic applies. Installing insulation and a heat pump now locks in lower bills before the next price cap rise, which Ofgem is expected to set at around £1,736 from October 2025. The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme offers free insulation to low-income households, and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme is open to all owner-occupiers until 2028. Waiting until 2029 will mean higher costs and longer queues.
The lesson from the landlords’ plight is simple: retrofit is cheaper and easier when you plan it, not when you are forced into it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ministers have not signalled any extension, but the industry body's call for more support may lead to a review of grant funding or a phased compliance route. Landlords should not rely on a delay, start with a free EPC assessment and a retrofit plan now.
Not directly, but tenants can report a property with an EPC below E to the local authority, which can enforce minimum standards. From 2030, any letting of a property below EPC C will be unlawful in England and Wales, giving tenants legal grounds to challenge non-compliance.
