The Government has now confirmed a new deadline for improving the energy efficiency of rented homes. Under the latest announcement, all privately rented properties will need to reach an EPC rating of at least C by 1 October 2030, unless a valid exemption is registered.

Importantly, this requirement will apply to all rental properties, including those with existing tenants, not just new tenancies.

The update forms part of the Government’s Warm Homes Plan and takes a more practical, ‘fabric first’ approach. This means the focus will be on improvements such as insulation, glazing and window upgrades, rather than more disruptive or expensive measures.

There is also some welcome clarification around costs. Earlier proposals that suggested landlords might need to spend up to £15,000 per property have been revised. The maximum spending cap has now been reduced to £10,000 per property, with lower caps for homes valued under £100,000. Any qualifying energy efficiency improvements carried out from October 2025 onwards will count towards this cap.

Another key change is the removal of the previously proposed 2028 deadline for new tenancies. Instead, all rented homes will now work towards the same single compliance date of 2030. The Government has also confirmed that low-interest loans will be made available to help landlords fund improvement works.

While the long-term ambition for all privately rented homes to reach EPC C remains in place, the revised timescales and cost limits follow consultation with the sector and are intended to be more achievable in practice.