The UK government has confirmed that private landlords must achieve a minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C for their rental properties by 2030. This regulation aims to improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and lower tenant energy bills.
While the change aligns with the UK’s broader climate goals, it presents significant challenges for landlords who must now prepare for costly property upgrades.
Key Details of the EPC C Requirement
New Tenancies: From 2028, any newly let property must have an EPC rating of C or higher.
Existing Tenancies: By 2030, all rental properties must comply with the EPC C standard, regardless of tenancy start date.
Financial Impact on Landlords
The estimated cost per property to meet the EPC C standard ranges from £6,100 to £6,800.
A spending cap of £15,000 is proposed, allowing landlords who invest this amount but still fall short of EPC C to apply for a 10-year exemption.
An affordability exemption (capped at £10,000) is under consideration for landlords in lower-rent areas.
How Landlords Can Improve Energy Efficiency
To comply with the EPC C requirement, landlords may need to make upgrades such as:
- Loft and cavity wall insulation
- Double glazing
- Energy-efficient heating systems
- Solar panels and smart meters
No Letting Go’s Take: A Necessary Step, But a Costly One
At No Letting Go, we support measures to improve housing quality and energy efficiency, but we understand this regulation will be challenging for many landlords. The government must provide clearer financial support options to ensure compliance is realistic and affordable, particularly for small landlords.
One of the biggest concerns is enforcement. If compliance is inconsistently monitored, it could penalise responsible landlords while allowing others to bypass the rules. Additionally, landlords may struggle to find tradespeople to complete the necessary work within the timeframe, given the increasing demand for energy efficiency improvements.
For landlords, planning ahead is key. The worst scenario is waiting until the last minute when costs could be higher, and services may be harder to secure.
How No Letting Go Can Help
1. Property Assessments & Energy Compliance Checks
Our mid-term property visits can identify early signs of damp, heating inefficiencies, and insulation issues, helping landlords proactively plan for EPC upgrades.
Learn more about mid-term visits
2. Protecting Your Investment with Accurate Reporting
With the increased costs of compliance, it’s vital to ensure your property condition is well-documented to avoid disputes. Our detailed inventory reports and check-out reports provide landlords with evidence for tenant responsibilities and property condition assessments.
Explore our inventory services
3. Future-Proofing Your Property Portfolio
By keeping up with inspections and documenting all property improvements, landlords can increase their property’s value, appeal to environmentally conscious tenants, and avoid last-minute compliance stress.
Final Thoughts
While the EPC C requirement is a step in the right direction for sustainability, it brings significant financial and logistical challenges for landlords. Acting now will help spread the costs and ensure compliance before the 2028 and 2030 deadlines.
At No Letting Go, we’re here to help landlords stay compliant, protect their investments, and make the right decisions for their rental properties.
Need support with inspections or property documentation? Contact us today!
We’re happy to announce that we have been awarded accreditation from Safecontractor for our commitment to achieving excellence in health and safety. Safecontractor is a leading third party accreditation scheme which recognises very high standards in health and safety management amongst UK contractors.
The company’s application for Safecontractor accreditation was driven by the need for a uniform standard across the business.
“No Letting Go understands the importance of taking risk management seriously with regard to our clients, their clients and our personnel. We are constantly striving to continuously improve the standards of property reporting and ensure the health & safety of all our stakeholders”, said Nick Lyons, No Letting Go’s CEO.
Safecontractor accreditation will enhance the company’s ability to attract new contracts and its commitment to safety will be viewed positively by its insurers when the company liability policy is up for renewal.
Safecontractor is applicable to most sectors although it is particularly relevant to food manufacture, property, facilities management, retail and leisure sectors, all of which are big users of contracted services.
John Kinge, technical director of Safecontractor said, “Major organisations simply cannot afford to run the risk of employing contractors who are not able to prove that they have sound health and safety policies in place.”
“More companies need to understand the importance of adopting good risk management in the way that No Letting Go has done. The firm’s high standard has set an example which hopefully will be followed by other companies within the sector.
Safecontractor plays a vital role in supporting our clients in meeting their compliance needs, whilst working with their contractors as they progress through the accreditation process.”
Under the Safecontractor scheme, businesses undergo a vetting process which examines health and safety procedures and their track record for safe practice. Those companies meeting the high standard are included on a database, which is accessible to registered users only via a website.
Client-organisations who sign up to the scheme can access the database, enabling them to vet potential contractors before they even set foot on site. These clients agree that, as users of the scheme, they will engage only those who have received accreditation.
Over 210 major, nation-wide businesses, from several key sectors, have signed up to use the scheme when selecting contractors for services such as building, cleaning, maintenance, refurbishment or electrical and mechanical work.