By 2030 all Private Rented Sector (PRS) properties in England will require an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ranking of C or above.
This is according to new government proposals in line with their net zero goals. So how will this change affect landlords, and will EPC standards in Scotland also change?
EPCs explained
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is a document that grades the energy efficiency of a property, and all rental properties are required to have one.
EPCs are graded with a letter system from G to A, with G being the lowest and A being the highest.
As it stands, the minimum requirement for EPC rankings in a rental property is an E ranking.
EPCs last for 10 years, so it’s important that you get a new EPC when your current one is close to running out.
How are EPC standards changing for rental properties?
The minimum standard for EPC rankings is an E ranking, which was first introduced in 2018 by the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES).
The minimum standard is proposed to be increased to a C ranking by 2030, with all new tenancies requiring to meet this standard by 2028.
The new standard will help towards the Government’s net zero carbon emission goals, and will help reduce the cost of renting for tenants by potentially reducing their energy bill.
What should landlords do about the new EPC minimum standard?
Right now you still have time to decide on what to do. If your rental properties do not have an EPC ranking of C or higher, you will have to upgrade your properties to meet this standard.
If your EPC is set to expire before 2030, then it’s worth investing to make sure your property is up to the new standard.
It’s worth investing in your rental property to make it more appealing to tenants, so increasing the energy efficiency of your rental properties is worth doing even without this new minimum standard increase.
It could also be a good opportunity to renovate and redecorate if your rental property hasn’t been updated in a while.
That said, around half of all rental properties do not have an EPC ranking of C or higher, meaning a lot of landlords will be in a difficult position.
Our local lettings experts are here to help. If you have any concerns, or simply could do with someone to discuss your options with, get in touch with your local Reeds Rains branch.
Are EPC standards changing in Scotland?
As of February 2025, the Scottish Government has not enacted legislation mandating minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings for private rented properties. While there have been proposals and discussions over the years, no specific requirements are currently in force.
In 2020, draft regulations aimed to require all private rental properties to achieve an EPC rating of D by 2025. However, these plans were withdrawn in favour of developing more stringent measures.
As of October 2024, there is no legislation in place to introduce a minimum energy efficiency standard in Scotland. The government has published its latest proposals, but no specific requirements have been enacted.
Therefore, while landlords in other parts of the UK are preparing for stricter EPC regulations, Scottish landlords should stay informed about potential future changes but are not currently subject to new EPC compliance requirements.
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