EPC C by 2030 is now policy: what January's decision means for London landlords
Short answer: The government confirmed in January 2026 that privately rented homes in England must reach the equivalent of EPC C by 1 October 2030, assessed against new dual-metric EPCs, with required spending capped at £10,000 per property. Most London new-builds already rate B or A — which is quietly becoming one of their strongest letting arguments.
The consultation ran for a year; the answer is now in writing. Here is what was actually decided, what is still moving, and why the decision splits the London rental stock in two.
What exactly was decided in January 2026?
The government response to the Improving the energy performance of privately rented homes consultation confirmed:
| Decision | Detail |
|---|---|
| One compliance date | 1 October 2030, all tenancies in scope in England |
| A new standard | Dual-metric: a fabric performance primary standard, then a secondary standard (smart readiness or heating system — landlord's choice) |
| A spending cap | £10,000 maximum required investment per property (for homes valued under £100,000, the cap is 10% of the value if that is lower) |
| New EPCs | EPCs move to a multi-metric system, targeted for October 2026 — the response itself calls the timeline ambitious |
| Grandparenting | A home rated C or above on an EPC lodged before 1 October 2029 counts as compliant until that certificate expires |
Penalties rise substantially with it: local authorities will be able to fine up to £30,000 per breach, per property, including for false or misleading exemption registrations.
Does my rental need EPC C right now?
No. Today's legal floor is unchanged: EPC E under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015). The C requirement arrives 1 October 2030 — but the grandparenting rule makes the 2029 EPC the date that actually matters. A C-rated certificate lodged before 1 October 2029 buys you its full validity.
What does "dual-metric" mean for an older flat?
Under the reformed EPCs, a home is measured on more than one axis, and the primary requirement is fabric — walls, windows, insulation — before heating or smart measures count. That ordering is deliberate, and it is expensive for the wrong stock: a period conversion with solid walls may need real building work to move its fabric score, and the £10,000 cap is the ceiling on what you must spend, not a grant towards it.
Why this splits the London market
Look at the same rule from the other side. A 2020s new-build — insulated to current Building Regulations, often on efficient communal heat, frequently rated B — is already past the 2030 line the day it completes. Every energy figure on our listings is drawn from the property's actual EPC record (see how we present this on our EPC explainer), and on new-build stock those figures are an argument, not a caveat: lower modelled bills for the tenant, zero compliance spend for the owner this decade.
That gap will price itself in twice — once in tenant demand, once in what landlords of older stock must spend before October 2030. It is one more reason our book leans the way it does: we are new-build specialists because the stock is easier to defend, at the rent and now at the regulation.
What should a landlord do this year?
- Check your current EPC and its expiry — a C already lodged is an asset; know when it runs out.
- If you're at D or E, get a costed view of the fabric-first route early. The closer to 2030, the scarcer the installers.
- If you're buying to let, weigh the compliance cost into the yield. A cheaper period flat that needs £10,000 of fabric work by 2030 is not cheaper.
- Keep the paperwork. Exemptions exist, and every exemption is an evidence exercise.
We won't dress this up as a crisis — 2030 is four years away and the cap is real. But we also won't let a landlord buy a D-rated flat from us without the 2030 line item on the table, because a surprise you could have priced in 2026 is not a surprise, it is an oversight.
Book a free rental appraisal and we'll give you the honest read on your property — rent, timing, and where it stands against 2030.
Sources
- Improving the energy performance of privately rented homes: government response — gov.uk (January 2026)
- The Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 (current MEES floor)
General information, not legal advice. Confirm your property's position before committing spend.