EPC C Rating Deadline for Landlords: What You Need to Know in 2026

Current EPC Requirements for Landlords

Under the current rules, all rental properties in England must have a minimum EPC rating of E. Properties rated F or G cannot be legally let, and you cannot grant a new tenancy or renew an existing one for an F or G property.

The maximum fine for letting an F or G property is £5,000.

An EPC is valid for 10 years and must be provided to the tenant before the tenancy starts.

What the Government Has Proposed

The government has proposed tightening the minimum EPC requirement to C for rental properties. The proposed timeline has shifted several times:

Original proposal: C for new tenancies by 2025, all tenancies by 2028

Current status (March 2026): The regulation has been confirmed in principle but the implementation timeline is subject to further consultation

What landlords should do: Treat an EPC rating of D or below as a near-term issue. Even if the C deadline slips further, properties rated D or E are increasingly difficult to rent at premium rates, and tenants are increasingly aware of energy efficiency.

How to Improve Your EPC Rating

Moving up an EPC band typically requires improvements in:

Insulation (highest impact):

Loft insulation (if missing or under 100mm): Can improve by 1–2 bands

Cavity wall insulation (if applicable): 1 band improvement common

Solid wall insulation: Significant improvement but expensive (£5,000–£15,000)

Heating (high impact):

Replace an old gas boiler with a modern condensing boiler: ½–1 band

Install a heat pump: Often 1–2 bands (but costs £8,000–£15,000)

Windows:

Single-to-double glazing: ½ band improvement

Low-cost quick wins:

LED lighting throughout: Small but measurable improvement

Smart thermostatic controls: Can improve the rating slightly

Tip: Always commission a new EPC after improvements — the assessor may have used assumptions about your property that were incorrect.

Exemptions

If your property genuinely cannot be improved to the minimum standard, you can register a formal exemption with the PRS Exemptions Register.

Valid exemptions include:

Cost cap: If the cost of all cost-effective improvements exceeds £3,500, you can exempt the property once this cap is reached

Third party consent: If improvements are blocked by a freeholder, planning authority or listing body

Property devaluation: If independent surveyor confirms improvements would devalue the property by more than 5%

New tenancy exemption: 6-month exemption if you've just let the property with the current tenant

Exemptions must be registered and last 5 years (except new tenancy, which lasts 6 months).

LetCompliance EPC Tracking

LetCompliance tracks your EPC expiry date and rating for every property. You'll receive reminders before your EPC expires, and your EPC status contributes to your property's compliance score.

If your property is rated D or below, LetCompliance flags this clearly on the dashboard so you can plan improvement works ahead of any regulatory tightening.

Track your EPC compliance with LetCompliance →