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 June 2024 - Comments: 6
4:09 PM, 6th November 2026, About 2 days ago
If you have already got an EPC “C” in 2025 is this good enough to last till 2935 as at the time it was for 10 years. Or do you have to catch up to the new new standards before they are really due.
Member Since November 2019 - Comments: 224
4:23 PM, 6th November 2026, About 2 days ago
Reply to the comment left by Sam Steer at 06/11/2026 – 11:39
Hi Sam , With Regards with regards to 1930 Semies , Check The EPC in the Area. There will not be many if any C Grades . Most Residents are more than happy to Life there but not Good enough for Tenants.
Member Since August 2023 - Comments: 52
4:50 PM, 6th November 2026, About 2 days ago
Reply to the comment left by Lordship at 06/11/2026 – 15:35
I agree.
Member Since September 2015 - Comments: 1060
6:55 PM, 6th November 2026, About 2 days ago
Reply to the comment left by Lordship at 06/11/2026 – 15:35
The NRLA are Government lap-dogs, and do not actually represent Landlords despite purporting to.
Member Since November 2017 - Comments: 275
8:42 PM, 6th November 2026, About 2 days ago
Reply to the comment left by John Davies at 06/11/2026 – 16:09
googled that, apparently not, if you have an EPC it holds good until expired.
Member Since December 2025 - Comments: 31
9:02 PM, 6th November 2026, About 2 days ago
Totally unviable and a perfect way for this government to steal property by imposing draconian fines. The councillors will love it seeing properties being given to them to cover the fines.
We’d be better of if Putin invaded the UK
Member Since September 2026 - Comments: 10
9:59 PM, 6th November 2026, About 2 days ago
Reply to the comment left by Sam Steer at 06/11/2026 – 11:39
I’m afraid that Plug-In solar is actually NOT included in EPC assessments. Only fixed solar PV is recorded. The requirement for solar photovoltaics to be included are described in RdSAP Convention 9.05 which will make interesting bed-time reading.
Member Since September 2026 - Comments: 10
10:09 PM, 6th November 2026, About 2 days ago
Reply to the comment left by Lordship at 06/11/2026 – 15:35
There’s actually been a considerable government consultation process completed already, to get to where we are currently, for both the ‘EPC Reform’ side of things and the tighter MEES requirements from 2030. To be fair the NRLA have actually participated in all of that, although I haven’t actually read their submissions. However, I must say I’m not a fan of the NRLA. Having viewed their webinar on the 4th Nov entitled: “The new EPC system: what’s changing and why it matters” I must say even their basic explanation and presentation of the current situation was poor and amateur. How hard they actually worked to influence the outcome, I therefore do wonder.
Member Since September 2026 - Comments: 10
10:18 PM, 6th November 2026, About 2 days ago
Reply to the comment left by John Davies at 06/11/2026 – 16:09
If you have a ‘C’ under the current system (the EER metric, currently calculated using RdSAP), that will be deemed to satisfy the minimum requirement for MEES from Oct 2030, until that EPC either expires or is replaced. EPCs from late 2027 will use the new methodology (HEM) but will also carry a ‘Legacy EER’ metric which can be used in the same way, until end of Sept 2029. From 1st Oct 2029, any new EPCs will only have the new multi-metrics. This is all assuming you are in England & Wales.
Member Since January 2015 - Comments: 1656 - Articles: 1
12:26 AM, 7th November 2026, About 2 days ago
Reply to the comment left by JB at 06/11/2026 – 13:52
I asked my MP to raise this with Housing Minister, also if the property is not EPC C is the tenant automatically evicted as cannot rent the property.
The answer was, we don’t know.
Ask your MPs.