England and Wales · Private rentals · Free Excel planner
EPC for
landlords.
Today, a rental in England or Wales needs an EPC of at least E. The government plans to raise that to the equivalent of C from 1 October 2030, with a £10,000 spending cap per property. Here’s what applies now, what’s planned, and how to get ahead.
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Not energy or legal advice.
01 /
The rules
today.
These are the minimum energy efficiency standards in force now for private rentals in England and Wales.
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| Minimum rating E | You can’t let a property rated F or G unless you’ve registered a valid exemption. |
| Spending cap | You don’t have to spend more than £3,500, including VAT, to improve a property to E. |
| Exemptions | Exemptions, such as high cost, wall insulation concerns or third-party consent, must be registered on the PRS Exemptions Register. |
| Penalties | Councils can fine up to £5,000 per property for breaking the rules. |
| Which tenancies | Assured, regulated and domestic agricultural tenancies, where the property must have an EPC. |
Find your certificate, its rating and its expiry date with GOV.UK’s find an energy certificate service. EPCs last 10 years.
02 /
What’s planned
for 2030.
The government set out its plans on 21 January 2026. The laws to bring them in still need to be passed, so check GOV.UK for updates.
A higher standard
From 1 October 2030, all private rentals will need to meet the equivalent of EPC C, for new and existing tenancies alike.
It will be measured using new EPC metrics: mainly the building fabric, plus either the heating system or smart readiness.
A £10,000 cap
You won’t have to spend more than £10,000 per property. Money spent on improvements since 1 October 2025 will count towards it.
For properties worth under £100,000, the cap will be lower: 10% of the property’s value.
03 /
Make a plan
in four steps.
Your EPC already lists recommended improvements, what they might cost and the rating they could reach. Start there.
- 1. Find your EPCNote the rating, score, expiry date and potential rating on Plan.
- 2. List the improvementsCopy each recommendation with its indicative cost and the rating after.
- 3. Get quotesSome work, like wall insulation, needs a survey first. Decide what to do and when.
- 4. Keep the evidenceRecord the date and amount paid, and keep invoices. Spend since 1 October 2025 is planned to count.
04 /
From D 62
towards C.
Oak flat’s fictional EPC recommends four improvements. These rows are in WorkedExample.
Plan · Improvements
| Improvement | EPC estimate | Rating after | Decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loft insulation to 270mm | £100 – £350 | D 64 | Done 5 Nov 2026 · £320 |
| Cavity wall insulation | £500 – £1,500 | C 70 | Get quotes · survey first |
| Low energy lighting | £25 | C 71 | Done 20 Oct 2026 · £60 |
| Solar panels | £3,500 – £5,500 | C 74 | Later |
A new EPC is the only way to confirm a new rating. The example figures are illustrative.
Do I need a new EPC after improvements?
Your current EPC stays valid until it expires, but it won’t show the improvements. Get a new one if you want the rating to reflect the work.
What if I can’t reach the standard?
Today, if you’ve spent up to the £3,500 cap or another exemption applies, you can register an exemption. The 2030 plans include a similar exemption once you’ve spent up to £10,000.
Does this apply in Scotland or Northern Ireland?
No. These rules cover England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own energy rules for rented homes.
Where do I record energy costs as expenses?
Use the free landlord spreadsheet for costs, and ask an accountant how improvements are treated for tax.
Check the official guidance
These pages set out the rules and plans this guide summarises.
A plan now saves a rush in 2030.
Save a copy of the free planner and start with your current EPC.
Sproutlet’s app is still in development. These resources are free to use now.