Guides · Last checked 24 Oct 2026 · England

EPC rules for landlords: ten-year validity, band E now, band C by October 2030

A rented home in England must have a valid Energy Performance Certificate, which lasts ten years, and must be rated E or above unless an exemption is registered. The government has confirmed that from 1 October 2030 every privately rented home must reach the equivalent of band C, with a cost cap of £10,000 per property.

The current rules

• You need an EPC before you market the property, and the rating must appear in the advert.
• An EPC lasts ten years. You don't have to renew it mid-tenancy, but you need a valid one for each new letting.
• Since April 2020 you cannot let a property rated F or G unless you have registered a valid exemption on the PRS Exemptions Register.
• Give the tenant a copy at the start of the tenancy.

EPC C by 2030

The government's response to the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards consultation, published in early 2026, confirmed a single deadline: 1 October 2030 for all tenancies. The earlier idea of 2028 for new tenancies was dropped. The standard is the equivalent of band C measured on the reformed EPC's new metrics (fabric performance, plus heating-system efficiency or smart readiness).

• Properties already rated C or above on a certificate issued before 1 October 2029 count as compliant until that certificate expires.
• Otherwise, by 1 October 2029 you need a new EPC on the reformed metrics, then the improvements, then a post-works EPC, all before 1 October 2030.
• Cost cap: £10,000 per property. Once you've spent that and the property still falls short, you can register a ten-year exemption. For homes worth under £100,000 the cap is 10% of the value.
• Improvements you pay for from October 2025 onwards count towards the cap.
• Maximum penalty under the new regime: £30,000 per property per breach.

What to do now

1. Check your current rating and expiry on the EPC register (find-energy-certificate.service.gov.uk).
2. If you're at D or below, get the recommendations list from the EPC and price the first two or three items; loft and cavity insulation and heating controls are usually the cheapest band gains.
3. Keep receipts for any energy work from October 2025: it counts towards the £10,000 cap.
4. Note the EPC expiry date somewhere you'll see it. A lapsed EPC is also an out-of-date item on your landlord register entry.

Certkept tracks the EPC expiry per property alongside the other certificates and shows the rating on the register pack.