# EPC rating E explained: the legal floor for rentals

> Band E is 39 to 54 points, the lowest band a private landlord in England and Wales may let without an exemption. What E means for owners and landlords.

- Canonical URL: https://epccalculator.com/epc-rating-e/
- Source: [GOV.UK, minimum energy efficiency standard: landlord guidance](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/domestic-private-rented-property-minimum-energy-efficiency-standard-landlord-guidance)
- Checked: 2026-10-26
- Structured data: https://epccalculator.com/data/epc-rating-e.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.

## E in numbers

| Point | Band E |
|---|---|
| Score range | 39 to 54 points |
| Points to D | Up to 16 |
| Points to C | 15 to 30 |
| Share of homes in England at E, F or G, 2024 | 9% ([EHS 2024-25](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/697a0f35005d288bf850deb2/2024-25_EHS_Headline_Report_on_Housing_Quality_and_Energy_Efficiency.pdf)) |
| Average cost to reach C from E | £12,430 (same source) |

## The floor for letting

Since 1 April 2020, landlords may not let, or continue to let, a property covered by the minimum standard if its EPC is below E, unless a valid exemption is registered ([GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/domestic-private-rented-property-minimum-energy-efficiency-standard-landlord-guidance)). E is therefore the lowest band you can let without an exemption, and an E home is legal to let today.

It is also the band with the least margin. A new assessment that moves a 39 down to a 38 turns a legal let into an F, which needs work or an exemption before the next tenancy, or straight away for a home already let.

## What changes for E homes after 2030

For lettings, band C by 1 October 2030 is confirmed government policy, not yet law. The government response of 21 January 2026 sets a £10,000 cost cap per property and a ten-year exemption once the cap is spent; regulations are expected to follow, with the aim of coming 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)). With an average cost to C of £12,430 from E, many E homes would hit that cap before reaching C. That makes keeping receipts for every measure important.

## What an E means for an owner-occupier

No law makes an owner improve an E. The cost is in the bills: the survey models bands D to G at higher average energy costs than A to C, rising to £2,662 a year for G ([EHS 2022-23](https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/english-housing-survey-2022-to-2023-energy/english-housing-survey-2022-to-2023-energy-report)). For E itself the survey does not publish a separate figure, so we do not invent one.

## Where to start

1. Look your certificate up on the [register](https://epccalculator.com/how-to-check-your-epc-rating/). Note the score and the recommendations.
2. For a quick legal margin, find the measures that lift you a few points for the least money.
3. For the long view, enter all the measures in the calculator above to see the cheapest set that reaches 69.
4. An E home needs no exemption today. If the home is F or G, see [EPC F and G](https://epccalculator.com/epc-rating-f-and-g/) and [exemptions](https://epccalculator.com/epc-exemptions-and-the-cost-cap/).

## Fines that apply around band E

Letting a covered home below E without an exemption can cost a landlord up to £2,000 if it lasts under three months, up to £4,000 if it lasts three months or more, and up to £5,000 per property in total, plus publication of the breach ([GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/domestic-private-rented-property-minimum-energy-efficiency-standard-landlord-guidance)).

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