Rental rules for landlords with an EPC rating E property
Yes, today. Band E (39 to 54 points) is exactly the legal minimum. It is two bands below the C standard announced for 1 October 2030. A single point drop at reassessment would make the property unlawful to let.
What the law says
The Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 make it unlawful to let a domestic property with an EPC below band E (since 1 April 2020 for all tenancies) unless a valid exemption is registered on the PRS Exemptions Register. Local authorities can impose penalties of up to £2,000 (breach under 3 months), £4,000 (3 months or more), £2,000 for ignoring a compliance notice and £1,000 for false register entries, capped at £5,000 per property. They can also publish the breach.
The 2030 C standard
On 21 January 2026 the government confirmed a single compliance date of 1 October 2030 for an EPC C level standard in the private rented sector, a £10,000 cost cap and ten year exemptions. Existing C certificates will be recognised until they expire. The regulations have not yet been laid. Treat dates and caps as announced policy.
Planning ahead
- Pull the recommendations from the current certificate and cost the route to C now. The announced £10,000 cap is per property.
- Reassess after works so the new rating is lodged before 1 October 2030.
- Check certificate expiry: an EPC lasts 10 years and a new tenancy needs a valid one.