Free tool · EPC C by 2030
EPC 2030 Cost Planner
Every privately rented home in England and Wales must reach EPC C by 1 October 2030, with a £10,000 per-property cost cap. Tell this planner your current band and what the property already has — it builds an indicative upgrade plan, cheapest points first, with the cap and available grants applied.
EPC 2030 questions, answered
When do rented homes need to reach EPC C?
From 1 October 2030, every privately rented home in England and Wales must meet EPC band C. The government confirmed in January 2026 that this is a single deadline for all tenancies — the earlier proposal to apply it to new tenancies from 2028 was dropped.
How much do I have to spend?
The cost cap is £10,000 per property. If you spend that on eligible improvements and the property still is not at band C, you can register a cost-cap exemption lasting 10 years. For homes valued under £100,000, the cap is lower — 10% of the property’s value. Eligible works funded from October 2025 onwards count toward the cap, so keep every invoice.
My property already has an EPC C — do I need to do anything?
No works are required. A home holding EPC C (or better) stays compliant until that certificate expires, including certificates issued before October 2029. Just keep the certificate in date and on file.
What happens if I do nothing?
Letting a non-compliant property after 1 October 2030 carries penalties of up to £30,000 per property per breach — a sixfold increase on the current £5,000 maximum. If your property is below C, you will need a new pre-retrofit EPC by 1 October 2029, then the works and a post-retrofit EPC by the deadline.
Is the EPC assessment itself changing?
Yes. Reformed EPCs will rate properties across new metrics, and the band C requirement will be judged on fabric performance plus either the heating-system or smart-readiness metric. Fabric-first improvements — insulation, glazing, draught-proofing — are the safest investment under both the current and reformed systems.
Are any properties exempt?
Short-term lets are outside the EPC C requirement, and the existing MEES exemption categories continue — including the cost-cap exemption where you have spent the cap without reaching C. Exemptions must be registered, and most last 10 years under the new framework.
Track every EPC across your portfolio automatically
HomeDash holds each property's EPC band, score and expiry date, warns you before certificates lapse, and keeps the invoices that prove your cost-cap spend — so 2030 arrives as a line on your dashboard, not a scramble.
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This tool is guidance, not legal advice. The rules it applies were last reviewed on 21 August 2026 against: gov.uk — MEES consultation & government response (Jan 2026) · Energy Saving Trust — typical measure costs · gov.uk — Boiler Upgrade Scheme · gov.uk — find an energy certificate. If your situation is unusual or contested, take advice before serving anything.