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Landlord EPC guide
What landlords need to know about EPC ratings for letting properties
If you're a landlord, you need to be aware of government energy efficiency standards and what this could mean for the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of any property you rent out now or in the future.
Rental properties in England and Wales have required an Energy Performance Certificate rating since 2008. After consultations and changes, the latest Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for England and Wales mean that:
- All existing rental properties must be rated at C or above by 2028.
- Newly rented properties will need an EPC rating of C or above by 2025.
- In Scotland, all rental properties must have a minimum EPC rating of D by 31st March 2025.
There are some exemptions, such as places of worship or buildings that are listed or protected and not suited to upgrade measures. In most cases, the minimum standards will need to be met and there are penalties for failing to do so.
You can check your property's EPC rating on the government EPC register. Or learn more in our EPC certificate guide.
What do EPC standards mean for tenants?
It should be good news for tenants, as any improvements you make will mean the property is more energy efficient. More than a quarter of renters said it would be very important for energy bills to be included in the overall monthly rental price due to rising costs, according to the NatWest Greener Homes Attitude Tracker (July 2023). As a landlord, you could stand to benefit from a property that increases in value, less the costs of making the improvements.
If a professional energy assessor is visiting the property, you'll need to let tenants know in writing at least 24 hours before. They may want to be present during the inspection and will need to allow the survey to take place. Any new tenants must be shown the report when they move in.
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