# EPC C by 2030: the planned rule for landlords

> Band C for private rentals in England and Wales by 1 October 2030: confirmed government policy, not yet law. Cap, fines, timeline and what to do now.

- Canonical URL: https://epccalculator.com/epc-c-by-2030-landlords/
- Source: [GOV.UK, Improving the energy performance of privately rented homes: government response (21 January 2026)](https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/improving-the-energy-performance-of-privately-rented-homes-2025-update/outcome/improving-the-energy-performance-of-privately-rented-homes-government-response-html)
- Checked: 2026-10-26
- Structured data: https://epccalculator.com/data/epc-c-by-2030-landlords.json

This page includes a free interactive tool that runs in the browser and sends no data. The figures and rules it uses are the ones stated on this page, with their sources.

**Status on 26 October 2026: confirmed government policy, not yet law.** The government published its final position on 21 January 2026. It still needs new powers through an Act of Parliament and then regulations approved by Parliament, which it aims to bring into force in 2027 ([GOV.UK response](https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/improving-the-energy-performance-of-privately-rented-homes-2025-update/outcome/improving-the-energy-performance-of-privately-rented-homes-government-response-html)). Until then the legal minimum is band E, and the GOV.UK landlord guidance (last updated 5 May 2026) still describes C by 2030 as an aim ([GOV.UK guidance](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/domestic-private-rented-property-minimum-energy-efficiency-standard-landlord-guidance)).

## What the response says

In the response's own words, "all tenancies within scope of the regulations must be compliant with the standard by 1 October 2030". There is no separate, earlier date for new tenancies. The target is band C, expressed through a new dual metric: a fabric performance standard first, then the landlord's choice of a heating system standard or a smart readiness standard.

| Point | Planned rule | Rule in force today |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum band | C (new metrics) | E |
| Deadline | 1 October 2030, all tenancies | Since 1 April 2020 |
| Cost cap | £10,000 per property | £3,500 incl. VAT |
| Low-value homes | 10% of value if lower than £10,000 (homes under £100,000) | No such rule |
| Spend that counts | Measures installed from 1 October 2025 | Spending since 1 October 2017 |
| Longest exemption | 10 years | 5 years |
| Maximum fine | £30,000 per property per breach | £5,000 per property in total |
| Short-term lets | Out of scope for now, under review | Not covered |

Sources: [GOV.UK response](https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/improving-the-energy-performance-of-privately-rented-homes-2025-update/outcome/improving-the-energy-performance-of-privately-rented-homes-government-response-html) and [GOV.UK guidance](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/domestic-private-rented-property-minimum-energy-efficiency-standard-landlord-guidance).

## Two routes to compliance

**Route 1: you already hold a C.** A certificate rated C or higher on the current Energy Efficiency Rating and issued before 1 October 2029 counts as compliant "until this EPC expires or is replaced". An EPC lasts ten years, so a C lodged in 2028 would carry the property well past 2030.

**Route 2: you are below C.** Commission a new-style EPC before the works, carry out improvements up to the cap, then commission a post-retrofit EPC before 1 October 2030. Both certificates count towards the £10,000.

## What counts towards the £10,000

The response lists: the cost of the measures, reasonable EPC fees before and after the works, third-party funding such as Warm Homes: Local Grant and ECO4, and some retrofit advice costs (amounts to be set later). Boiler Upgrade Scheme money does **not** count. The impact assessment expects average spend of about £5,400 per property, roughly half the cap.

## A timeline you can plan around

| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1 October 2025 | Spending from here counts towards the new cap |
| 21 January 2026 | Government response published |
| 2027 (aim) | Regulations in force, after the Act and Parliament's approval |
| Second half of 2027 | Reformed EPC with new metrics, as now planned ([Housing Today](https://www.housingtoday.co.uk/news/government-delays-epc-reforms-until-2027/5141221.article), press report) |
| 1 October 2029 | Last issue date for a current-scale C that still counts |
| 1 October 2030 | Every in-scope tenancy must comply |

## What could still move

The date, cap and fine come from a final policy statement, not from a statutory instrument. The exact way a "C" is shown on the new certificates is left to secondary legislation. Parliament can amend the regulations. We will update this page when a draft statutory instrument is laid.

The tool above works out your cap, how much is left and whether an [exemption](https://epccalculator.com/epc-exemptions-and-the-cost-cap/) is likely. For which works to do first, see [how to improve an EPC rating](https://epccalculator.com/how-to-improve-an-epc-rating/).

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