EPC C by 2030: what is coming for landlords, what it costs, what to do now
On 21 January 2026 the government published its response to the consultation "Improving the energy performance of privately rented homes in England and Wales". The headline: every private rented home must meet an EPC C level standard by 1 October 2030, with a £10,000 cost cap per property and exemptions lasting 10 years. The floor today stays at band E until then.
What was decided
- One date for everyone. The earlier idea of 2028 for new tenancies and 2030 for existing ones was dropped in favour of a single date: 1 October 2030 for all tenancies.
- A new "dual metric" EPC. Homes must first meet a fabric performance standard (insulation, glazing, airtightness). Then the landlord chooses to meet either a heating system standard or a smart readiness standard. New style EPCs carry these metrics.
- Existing band C certificates count. A property already rated C on the current Energy Efficiency Rating is treated as compliant until that certificate expires, provided it was issued before 1 October 2029.
- Cost cap £10,000 per property (up from £3,500 under the current E standard). Once you have spent to the cap on relevant measures you can register a ten year exemption.
- More exemptions, including for homes where the required works are not technically feasible. Short term lets are excluded from the regime.
- Penalties for the new standard were consulted on at up to £30,000 per property. The response signals higher penalties than the £5,000 of today but the figure will be set in the regulations. We show the £5,000 of today until the law changes.
What it typically costs to get from D or E to C
Every EPC lists the measures recommended by the assessor with an indicative cost range and the rating the home reaches after each one. The table shows the standard ranges printed on certificates for the most common measures. The live check below uses the figures lodged for your specific property and adds them up in the sequence set by the assessor.
| Measure | Indicative cost (as printed on EPCs) | Typical uplift | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loft insulation to 270 mm | £100 to £350 | +4 to +8 points | Cheapest points on most houses built before 1990. |
| Cavity wall insulation | £500 to £1,500 | +5 to +12 points | Only where walls are unfilled cavities. Check the wall line on the certificate. |
| Heating controls (programmer, room stat, TRVs) | £350 to £450 | +2 to +5 points | Often required before a boiler upgrade counts fully. |
| Replace boiler with condensing boiler | £2,200 to £3,000 | +8 to +15 points | Largest single jump for old gas boilers that are not condensing. |
| Floor insulation (suspended timber) | £800 to £1,200 | +2 to +4 points | Victorian terraces and semis. |
| Low emissivity double glazing (from single) | £3,300 to £6,500 | +3 to +6 points | Low points per pound. Usually a comfort decision. |
| Solar PV 2.5 kWp | £3,500 to £5,500 | +8 to +14 points | Common final step from D to C. |
| Internal wall insulation (solid walls) | £4,000 to £14,000 | +10 to +20 points | Solid brick homes. The wall insulation exemption route applies if an expert says it is unsuitable. |
Uplift figures are typical ranges from RdSAP assessments and vary with the home. The "rating after" column on your certificate is what counts. A band E house (39 to 54 points) needs at least 15 points to reach C (69). A band D (55 to 68) needs 1 to 14.
What to do now (2026 to 2030)
- Pull the certificate for every property and read the potential rating. If it is C or better, the lodged recommendations already get you there.
- Cost the route to C using the sequence set out on the register, and compare with the £10,000 cap. Above the cap, plan the exemption evidence (three quotes) now.
- Sequence works around tenancies: loft, cavity and controls can be done with tenants in place. Wall insulation and glazing usually need a void.
- Reassess after works so the new rating is lodged before 1 October 2029. That locks in recognition until the certificate expires.
- Watch the regulations. Dates, caps and penalties above are announced policy. They become binding only when the statutory instrument is laid. We update this page when it is.