EPC Minimum Rating for Landlords 2026: What the Rules Mean for You

The current minimum EPC rating for a private rented property in England is **E**. Properties rated F or G cannot legally be let to new tenants, and since April 2020 this applies to existing tenancies as well.

If your property has an EPC rating of F or G, you cannot legally continue letting it until either:

1. You carry out energy-efficiency improvements to bring it to at least an E rating, or 2. You register a valid exemption with the PRS Exemptions Register (for cases where improvements are not technically or financially feasible)

Fines for letting an F or G rated property are up to £5,000 per property.

A minimum EPC C rating for the private rented sector has been proposed for several years. The most recent government position is that EPC C will be required for new tenancies and renewals — but the exact timeline has shifted. The current best estimate is that the requirement will apply from **2028 or 2029** for new tenancies, with a later backstop for existing tenancies.

This means:

• If your property is currently rated D or E, it is legally lettable now — but may not be by 2028–2029
• If your property is rated C or above, you're already meeting the proposed new standard
• If your property is rated F or G, you cannot legally let it at all (see above)

Given that many energy improvement projects (insulation, heat pumps, upgraded heating controls) require planning and take time to deliver, landlords with D or E ratings should be preparing now, not waiting for legislation to be finalised.

An EPC rates a property from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient) based on:

• Wall, floor and roof insulation
• Glazing type (single/double/triple)
• Heating system type and controls
• Hot water provision
• Lighting (LED vs traditional)
• Renewable energy sources (solar panels, heat pumps)

The assessment is carried out by an accredited domestic energy assessor (DEA), who conducts a non-intrusive survey — no drilling or removing panels, just a visual inspection and measurement. An EPC is valid for 10 years, but you can commission a new one at any time if you've made improvements you want reflected.

The most cost-effective improvements for London rental properties (in rough order of impact) are:

Loft insulation — the single biggest improvement for properties with an uninsulated loft. Can move an E to a D or C for under £1,000.

Cavity wall insulation — effective for 1930s–1980s solid or cavity-wall houses. Less relevant for solid Victorian stock.

Boiler upgrade — replacing an old G-rated boiler with a modern A-rated condensing boiler makes a meaningful difference to heating efficiency.

Heating controls — programmer + room thermostat + thermostatic radiator valves can add 2–4 EPC points with no structural work.

LED lighting — switching all fixed lighting to LED is low-cost and improves the rating.

Double glazing — major improvement for single-glazed properties, though expensive in London's period stock.

We can arrange a new EPC assessment to show the impact of improvements already made, or an advisory assessment to identify the most cost-effective route to C.

EPC assessments at Landlord Compliance London start from £99.99 for a studio (up to £159.99 for a 5-bedroom property), all prices include VAT.

The assessment typically takes under an hour. Your certificate is lodged on the national EPC register and emailed to you within 24 hours of the assessment. It's valid for 10 years.

Book online via our contact form or call 07426 409342. We cover all 32 London boroughs and the M25.