What’s the true cost for landlords to get properties to EPC C by 2030?

The government’s £6-7k average is basically useless as a planning figure – it varies wildly by property type. The one thing I keep telling people: get EPCs done now on anything that might just reach a C, because anything assessed before October 2029 is grandfathered for 10 years under the current methodology. Also worth knowing the 2027 Home Energy Model will likely require smart readiness or high-performance heating.

Reply to the comment left by Mark Regan at 13/04/2026 – 12:36
That’s an interesting perspective. That could mean that it would make sense to make EPC improvements not now, but in early 2029. Do you have a link to the information confirming “…anything assessed before October 2029 is grandfathered..” or a reference for that?

Reply to the comment left by Beaver at 13/04/2026 – 13:58
I think he means EPCs last 10 years so if they’re dated 2029 – just before the changes come in – you’re safe for another 10 years till 2039.

Personally, all mine that are C or above will be redone in 2029, regardless of how long they have left till they expire. That way no capital outlay for another 9 years…at which point I’ll have to do solar or ASHP…if the ridiculous rules haven’t changed by then.

Reply to the comment left by Neil P at 13/04/2026 – 15:03
Again, that’s an interesting perspective. If you were a long way off getting from D to C, i.e. you faced significant capital expenditure, then it appears to me you are better off not doing anything until you know what you have to do, and if it is overly onerous then just get rid of the tenant to do what you need to do when you need to do it. You may otherwise spend a lot of money on things that don’t make any difference to your EPC rating, won’t count towards your expenditure cap if they move the goalposts as they have done in the past, or may never be recoverable.

However, I had always assumed that if you were very close to band C then it might make business sense to do easy upgrades now in order to push the rent up as a band C property. My understanding is that it costs £80-110 per month more for a tenant to rent out a band C property rather than a band D. So if it only cost you say £1,500 to move the EPC band because you were already close to it you could recover that in raised rent, although you’d need to be charging far more in additional rent as a small portfolio, non-incorporated landlord to recover the additional tax being levied on you by HMRC.

But what you and Mark Regan seem to be implying is that you are better off re-doing your EPCs in 2029 anyway because they then last 10 years. I.e. it doesn’t make sense to redo them now.

Reply to the comment left by Beaver at 13/04/2026 – 15:40
PS: Under the current system, if an EPC rating expires during an existing tenancy, landlords are not required to obtain a new EPC rating until the tenancy ends. So even if your EPC expires in 2026-2029 with a tenant in situ it is hard to see how you would benefit from renewing it until 2029. If the tenant leaves it’s easier (and in my experience cheaper) to do work with the tenant out of the property anyway.

Reply to the comment left by Mark Regan at 13/04/2026 – 12:36
We have been adding PV to houses . Each 2.5kw of PV supposedly adds about six points

Reply to the comment left by Contango at 13/04/2026 – 18:15
Wickes seems to think that adding PV panels to your property could add up to 15 points and even more if your systems includes battery storage:

https://www.wickes.co.uk/wickes-solar/solar-panel-advice/epc-ratings-and-solar#:~:text=Your%20EPC%20rating%20will%20improve,higher%20category%2C%20saving%20you%20money.

Reply to the comment left by Beaver at 02/04/2026 – 10:53
Totally agree. There are a 1001 reasons why a property with a cavity should not be insulated ; narrow or irregular cavities especially pre 1925 properties , pre 1981 galvanised ties, poor external pointing or poor quality mortar, properties with any existing damp problems, properties wihere there is a high risk of water penetration i.e. wet west facing walls, etc etc.

Reply to the comment left by Maureen Treadwell at 15/04/2026 – 16:33
Plus floors, floor joists, ceilings and roof timbers that all rot if they aren’t ventilated, even if there isn’t a high risk of water penetration. Just living in a house creates moisture which has to get out somewhere. Moisture doesn’t just enter a cavity from the external skin, it also enters from the internal skin. And it also climbs up if the property doesn’t have a modern damp proof course. Some people already qualify for government compensation for poorly fitted cavity wall insulation installed through government schemes. And yet it just seems to be a blanket recommendation from EPC assessors, regardless of whether it’s appropriate to the structure.