Landlord guide · England
The minimum EPC rating for rental properties
Most privately rented homes in England must have an Energy Performance Certificate rating of at least E. A landlord is not currently required to spend more than £3,500 including VAT on improvements; if E cannot be reached within that, the landlord can register an exemption.
Checked against official guidance on . General information for England, not legal advice.
Who it applies to
Properties let on assured, regulated or domestic agricultural tenancies that are legally required to have an EPC. Since 1 April 2020 you cannot let, or continue to let, such a property below E without a valid exemption.
The spending cap and exemptions
You are not currently required to spend more than £3,500 including VAT. Exemptions generally last five years and must be registered. They include:
- All relevant improvements made up to the cap, and the property is still below E
- The cheapest recommended measure costs more than £3,500, backed by three quotes
- Wall insulation that an expert confirms would harm the building
- Consent needed for the works was refused
- A surveyor confirms the works would cut the property’s value by more than 5%
- A temporary six-month exemption for someone who has recently become a landlord
Penalties
Councils enforce the rules. Penalties go up to £4,000 for renting out a non-compliant property for three months or more, with a total cap of £5,000 per property.
What may change
The government has said it wants as many homes as possible to reach EPC C by 2030, but this is not law yet. Check GOV.UK before planning around it.
Sources
Rules differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. If you are not sure how they apply to your property, ask your council’s private housing team or a solicitor.
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