Landlords face financial barriers to EPC upgrades
1 month ago | 12 comments
Landlords face fines of up to £30,000 under tougher EPC enforcement plans
12:10 AM, 6th November 2026, 3 days ago
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The government has proposed fines of more than £30,000 for rogue landlords who fail to meet EPC standards, as it confirms the date for the EPC C deadline.
The Energy Independence Bill will give councils stronger enforcement powers to crack down on landlords who fail to comply with EPC requirements.
The government has also confirmed that the deadline for all PRS properties to meet EPC C standards will be 1 October 2030.
Save tenants money
The government claims that upgrading all PRS properties to EPC C could help tenants in improved rental homes save around £210 a year on energy bills by 2030.
Local authorities will also receive tougher enforcement powers to crack down on landlords failing to improve non-compliant properties.
The maximum civil penalty for landlords breaching the regulations has increased to £30,000, alongside an updated maximum required investment of £10,000 per property.
The maximum civil penalty for landlords who breach the regulations will be £30,000. However, it is not yet clear whether this will apply as a single maximum fine or £30,000 per property, per breach.
In January 2026, the government proposed a penalty of up to £30,000 per property, per breach of the regulations. The final approach will need to be clarified as the bill progresses through Parliament.
Encourage landlord compliance
In the government’s guidance on Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards enforcement, it says the £30,000 fine is intended to encourage landlord compliance and drive improvements across the private rented sector.
The guidance said: “The overall strategic objective of this measure is to ensure local authorities have the necessary powers and actions available to ensure non-compliant properties are improved.
“This measure will contribute to improving the private rented sector for tenants by improving the quality of properties across the sector, delivering warmer, cheaper to heat homes. This is vital to ensuring a reduction in the number of fuel-poor households and vulnerable tenants being left in cold energy inefficient homes.
“Increasing the energy efficiency of privately rented properties will improve energy security and reduce reliance on imported energy for heating homes.
“The measure will introduce a new maximum civil penalty of £30,000 for landlords found to be in breach of the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015. This will ensure that more privately rented properties are required to meet the minimum standard as set out by the regulations.”
48 comments on this article
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Member Since May 2014 - Comments: 172
12:06 PM, 6th November 2026, About 2 days ago
This is a trap. There`s no prospect of landlords achieving EPC C by 2030 because there’s insufficient materials technicians & finance to achieve it. The govt. will penalise (fine) to create income.
Member Since January 2017 - Comments: 143
12:22 PM, 6th November 2026, About 2 days ago
So, I may potentially have to spend 10k to save my tenants £210 a year. How long will it take me to get my 10k investment back? Will depend on the additional return it generates.
So, in order to get a return on that investment I’ll have to increase the rent. How much? 10k divided by the amount of time I continue as a landlord. Looks like it would be better to sell in 2030. Potentially a lot of tenants displaced in 2030 unless this bullshit is scrapped.
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 3421 - Articles: 83
1:49 PM, 6th November 2026, About 2 days ago
Reply to the comment left by Sam Steer at 06/11/2026 – 11:39
Yes I got info yesterday one of my EPC D’s may need solar panels 4k. I don’t even want the ruddy house.
Member Since May 2017 - Comments: 855
1:52 PM, 6th November 2026, About 2 days ago
Lets get our ducks in a row. If I give the tenant 4 months notice to leave before the EPC deadline but they dont leave, will I still get fined?
Member Since January 2017 - Comments: 143
2:07 PM, 6th November 2026, About 2 days ago
Reply to the comment left by JB at 06/11/2026 – 13:52
I can’t see how, as long as you have issued the correct s8 notice with the grounds and can prove it.
Member Since February 2021 - Comments: 107
3:02 PM, 6th November 2026, About 2 days ago
So what happens to the tenants if you haven’t got the funds to bring your property up to the reqd standard?
Will the government help to evict them?
Don’t the gov realize that maybe half rental properties will be able to achieve a C rating and it’s financially inviable for a landlord?
It’s utter madness
Member Since January 2017 - Comments: 143
3:35 PM, 6th November 2026, About 2 days ago
You would have thought someone representing landlords (NRLA) would be putting all these questions to government so landlords/tenants can prepare.
Perhaps they could survey their membership on this?
Member Since August 2023 - Comments: 52
3:55 PM, 6th November 2026, About 2 days ago
Reply to the comment left by JB at 06/11/2026 – 13:52
Fraid so. You’ll get a large fine for letting out a property with an invalid EPC and this will open the door for tenants rebate. The council will then probably take over the property.
Member Since August 2023 - Comments: 52
3:59 PM, 6th November 2026, About 2 days ago
Reply to the comment left by Lordship at 15:35
With over 110000 members and millions in income one would have hoped they could have been the voice for renters, but maybe ambitions lay elsewhere?
Member Since January 2017 - Comments: 143
4:07 PM, 6th November 2026, About 2 days ago
Reply to the comment left by Hugh Baily at 06/11/2026 – 15:55
So, where have you seen this is the case. I’ve not seen anything to sugest this would be the case. The opposite in fact.
https://www.epcguide.co.uk/blog/tenant-refuses-epc-works-section-21