9:16 AM, 22nd January 2026, About 3 weeks ago 34
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The government has U-turned on its plans and scrapped the 2028 deadline for new tenancies to meet EPC C targets, though the cost cap has been reduced.
The government has published its Warm Homes Plan, which will require landlords to ensure their rental properties meet minimum energy-efficiency standards.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband says the plan will “call time on landlords who don’t meet energy-efficiency standards” and all private rented properties will need to meet EPC C targets by October 2030.
However, the government has yet to clarify how it will work with landlords to achieve these standards, with industry experts warning energy efficiency upgrades will be costly for landlords.
In a video on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Miliband said the Warm Homes Plan “will call time on private landlords who meet proper energy-efficiency standards.
“If you are a tenant, you deserve to live in a safe, affordable and warm home.”
The government has confirmed under the Warm Homes Plan, all private rented properties will need to meet EPC C targets by October 2030, unless the property has a valid exemption.
Under the plans, landlords will be able to choose between the smart or heat metrics, and the cap on the amount they are expected to invest to meet the new standards will be reduced from £15,000 to £10,000.
The cost cap will be lower where £10,000 would represent 10% or more of a property’s value.
Any spending on energy-efficiency works carried out since October last year will also count towards the planned cap, and the government will deliver a range of finance options, including Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) grants.
Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), said: “We have long supported the need to improve the energy efficiency of the rental housing stock. However, the government’s initial proposals were simply unrealistic and had no hope of being delivered within the timescales originally set out.
“The government has clearly listened to our pragmatic proposals to improve its plans, and we look forward to working with it to ensure its ambitions work in practice.”
However, many industry experts warn that the Warm Homes Plan proposals are deeply concerning for landlords, due to a lack of clear and long-term funding commitments.
Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns at Propertymark, said: “While the ambition of the Warm Homes Plan to improve energy efficiency and tackle fuel poverty is acknowledged, the proposals as they stand are deeply concerning for landlords and agents across both the residential and commercial sectors.
“In the private rented sector, landlords are being asked to deliver, in many cases, substantial and costly upgrades to reach EPC C by 2030, yet this is being imposed without clear, long-term funding commitments, realistic delivery timescales, or sufficient flexibility for older, complex, and hard-to-treat properties.
“A phased and realistic approach would allow landlords to maintain the Decent Homes Standard, manage costs effectively, and contribute meaningfully to the UK Government’s ambition to achieve net zero by 2050.”
Mr Douglas adds the government has given little details for how commercial landlords will meet EPC B targets by 2030
He said: “Crucially, there remains no clarity on Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for non-domestic property, despite expectations that commercial landlords will be required to meet EPC B by 2030. The absence of detail on interim targets, exemptions, enforcement, and financial support makes it impossible for landlords to plan responsibly or invest with confidence.
“Propertymark has consistently warned that a one-size-fits-all approach to energy efficiency will not work. Without certainty, genuine flexibility, and practical financial support, there is a serious risk that both residential and commercial landlords will withdraw properties from the market.
“This would reduce supply, drive up costs for tenants and businesses, and ultimately undermine the government’s stated objectives on affordability, energy efficiency, and economic growth.”
Rob Wall, assistant director (Sustainability), British Property Federation, welcomed the 2030 deadline for private rented properties but warned it is still unrealistic.
He said: “At last we have some clarity on the government’s plans for domestic EPC reform and for new minimum energy efficiency standards for the private rented sector.
“We still believe a compliance deadline of 2030 for all tenancies is unrealistic, but we welcome the proposed transitional measures and the recognition that more consultation is needed to understand how the new EPC regime will work in practice.
“However, the government’s Warm Homes Plan has left commercial buildings out in the cold. The failure to provide any clarity on future minimum energy efficiency standards for the non-domestic private rented sector will do little to arrest the growing sense that Ministers don’t understand or see the case for supporting commercial real estate in its transition to net zero.”
“Further delays to clarifying EPC targets for commercial buildings will have a significant impact on investment and the UK’s competitiveness. While clarity on changes for domestic property will be welcome, the absence of a clear strategy to support the decarbonisation of commercial buildings risks undermining the government’s ability to deliver net zero by 2050.”
Landlord organisation iHowz say they welcome the clarity on the 2030 EPC deadline, but due to it being provided at such a late stage, iHowz will push for more generous financial incentives and support to ensure homes can be retrofitted before the 2030 deadline.
Rodney Townson from landlord organisation iHowz said: “It is difficult to assess how many landlords will view this as too onerous, as without sufficient Fabric First Measures, to ensure adequate insulation, many of these measures will not be suitable for flats or other properties without space for the new equipment.
“The Warm Homes Plan presents both challenges and opportunities for landlords, requiring significant investment to meet the upcoming EPC C standard by 2030. While mandatory upgrades add costs, the accompanying government grants through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and Local Grants offer vital support to install heat pumps and improve insulation, ultimately reducing tenant bills and cutting carbon.
“Our focus must be on ensuring landlords have clear guidance, timely access to these funds, and support to navigate the new EPC regulations, turning this into a shared success for sustainable, affordable, and compliant renting.”
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Peter Merrick
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Member Since October 2022 - Comments: 189
8:55 AM, 23rd January 2026, About 3 weeks ago
I think all of my whole let properties are now C rated bar two. But I fail to understand why shared houses where the landlord pays the bills are not being exempted. MEES seems to be primarily about saving tenants money at the expense of landlords, rather than anything else, and they are exempting short term and holiday lets for this very reason.
Furthermore, shared accommodation is often in larger, older properties which would be difficult to upgrade, whilst being inherently more environmentally efficient as the occupancy is usually much higher, leading to lower per capita emissions.
David100
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Member Since October 2023 - Comments: 188
9:02 AM, 23rd January 2026, About 3 weeks ago
I got an EPC a couple of days ago on a property. The report gave the house “poor” for double glazing. I queried this, as the whole house is double glazed.
The assessor said it was “just” basic double glazing, whereas now there is argon filled double glazing, with the glass treated with a film to hold in heat.
I checked, and everyone else on the street who has the same double glazing as me, it is shown as “good”
It makes a mockery of the system.
Suspicious Steve
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Member Since May 2025 - Comments: 70
9:40 AM, 23rd January 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Reply to the comment left by David100 at 23/01/2026 – 09:02
Whole assessment scheme is rubbish. Upgrading to triple glazing gets you zero points so moving to low E or argon filled will also likely be zero. I would probably upgrade to triple glazed as it is low disruption and relatively cheap to do.
Given houses in Sweden have triple glazed windows for a reason does make you wonder…
The real problem is there is zero transparency on how things are calculated. The assessment scoring tools are proprietary and although they are supposed to use the same standard assessment procedure it is clear that’s not the case.
Mick Roberts
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Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 3209 - Articles: 80
10:14 AM, 23rd January 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Reply to the comment left by Suspicious Steve at 23/01/2026 – 08:46
Yes we have the same with Nottingham City Council, telling the surveyor something misleading about the cavity so apply it to all the houses Wimpy No-Fines Concrete.
Adam Ahmed
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Member Since August 2024 - Comments: 1
13:44 PM, 23rd January 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Im bit baffled on all this C rating pressure. Governments saying tenants have a right to live in a decent environment, of which I agree, but why to C? Considering, I live in a mid terrace D66 house and it comfortable. There no mould, no damp. In winter I have the dehumidifer to take out the damp and condensation. I have energy efficent heating. If anything, government should have set it at D55 or above. So at least those properties on E could improve to D. There are many landlords I know, including myself living in D band ratings. Yet, where the support for non tenants? Rent I receive is a small income for me.
Personally, I feel tenants (not all, before I get a grilling) should be educated on how to look after a property. I know many tenants of my friends that throw clothes to dry on radiators, no moisture extracting appliances, dont open windows, then they (and the council) moan about damp and mould. It common sense. At this rate, tenants will live like kings and queens whilst some of us small landlords will be in poverty and having no choice but to sell.
I believe money should be invested to educate tenants and ratings on older like Victorian properties left at D.
It all a scam by people behind the scenes to take control and push honest genuine landlords out, forcing good tenants to vacate so they can sell.
This country seriously is in a mess. I see no future political party in support of landlords and scrapping this C Epc nonsense. If there is, please enlighten me.
Rod
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Member Since August 2021 - Comments: 305 - Articles: 1
13:54 PM, 23rd January 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Reply to the comment left by Peter Merrick at 23/01/2026 – 08:55
Current Rules (General)
Whole Property Let/Sold: An EPC is required for the entire building if it’s let as one unit (e.g., one contract for all tenants) or sold.
Room-by-Room (Shared Facilities): Traditionally, an EPC wasn’t needed for individual rooms if tenants had separate agreements and shared kitchens/bathrooms, as it wasn’t a distinct ‘building unit’.
Upcoming Changes & Best Practice
New Mandate: The government plans to require an EPC for the entire building when renting out any single room in an HMO.
Minimum Standard: All rented properties, including HMOs, must meet a minimum EPC rating of E, with plans to increase this to ‘C’ by 2028.
PH
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Member Since May 2021 - Comments: 374
18:02 PM, 23rd January 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Reply to the comment left by Adam Ahmed at 23/01/2026 – 13:44
….and to think that all the work and expense won’t have any impact whatsoever on net zero as the number of prs houses is miniscule to the overall number of houses in the UK. The government are taking the p*** and landlords are bending over backwards to oblige. I’m out in 2030 but as a tenant I’d be very concerned about this idiotic behaviour from the clowns in charge because it’s those who will suffer in the end more so than landlords.
SirAA
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Member Since January 2016 - Comments: 67
18:21 PM, 23rd January 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Reply to the comment left by Peter Merrick at 23/01/2026 – 08:55
The answer is because the issue isn’t about who pays the bills but rather about tenants living in “warm and descent” homes, as far as Red Ed and his clueless cronies are concerned.
SirAA
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18:27 PM, 23rd January 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Reply to the comment left by Adam Ahmed at 23/01/2026 – 13:44
You’ve summed things up beautifully in a common-sense manner. Unfortunately, common sense isn’t at all common, especially amongst our clueless Marxists in power with their holier than thou agendas.
Frankly
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Member Since September 2021 - Comments: 103
9:04 AM, 24th January 2026, About 2 weeks ago
Reply to the comment left by Jakjak at 23/01/2026 – 07:55
I took the rdSap v10 course to try and get a handle on how the EPC assessment was conducted. It was very interesting.
Firstly, yes there are a lot of dubious areas where you would think the EPC final rating would be improved, but didnt seem to make much difference. E.g from single to double glazing and double glazing to triple glazing, under floor insulation etc.
I did bring these discrepancies up during the course, but it was clear the rdSap v10 softwear was the deciding factor and arbiter of what makes a high EPC score.
There was very little room for the assessor to “influence ” the outcome as suggested. In fact each assessor is monitored by a auditor every now and then and will have to justify their assessment findings and EPC score within 5% of the audits findings.
If you feel the EPC assessor didn’t do a good job or missed some important details that negatively affect your EPC score you can complain and get a reassessment by an official EPC auditor.
One strange thing is an assessor doesn’t HAVE to climb into your loft to see the 500mm of insulation you have installed. If they don’t see it, they can recored it “as built” and have it recorded as no loft insulation at all, unless you have acceptable documentation as evidence!
In fact all improvements should have proper acceptable documentation, to ensure it is counted towards your overall EPC scoring.
So any DIY work is unlikely to help unless you can show with proof its been done, by pulling up the floorboards, or opening up the wall to show the cavity insulation installed.
Any air vents will count as an energy loss, but a shower from the GCH boiler system (not electric) will count positively. Chimneys will vent energy away so will count as a loss unless you have blocked them off.
The size and number of windows has an affect as well. If your DG windows have the kite mark on them showing the date when it was installed and what its specification or U value is, that will help significantly, as will having thermic valves on each CH radiator, and ALL lighting being LED’s. Solar panels will add a lot to the scores too of course.
Ultimately the assessor dosen’t have much room to negatively affect the EPC outcome other than “assuming” things are worse than they actually are, such as recording an “as built” designation for loft insulation or cavity wall insulation, when with a bit more effort they could have checked the loft insulation by climbing a ladder etc.
Before commissioning an assessor therefore, i would ask them some very important questions…
Will they climb a ladder to check inside the loft? Will they accept certain documents as proof the wall insulation has been done? Etc. Etc.
I personally will go the extra mile to get the best EPC score I can for a client, so they employ me again next time, and recommend me to others, and spread a “good word” about me.
Hopefully the rdSAP v10 softwear will improve as things go on, and the discrepancies i have mentioned, get ironed out in the future.
I’m voting for Advance Uk, so all this net zero nonsense etc. gets dumped in the trash can with all the NeoLiberals and Marxists idiots.