When does the EPC band C 2030 rule kick in for landlords?

The MEES 2030 rule lifts the rented-property minimum from band E to band C, taking effect 2030-04-01 for new tenancies on domestic property and 2030-10-01 for non-domestic. The phased extension to existing tenancies sits in current-government consultation; the working assumption is 2033-04-01 for existing tenancies but the final-rule-instrument is not yet published.

What landlords + letting agents should do now:

1. Audit the portfolio: pull the EPC for every let or to-let property, group by current band. Anything at band D or below is on the 2030 runway.

2. Plan the upgrades earliest: bands F and G are already unlettable under the 2018-2020 rule; anything at band D or E needs a route to C by 2030. Typical interventions are loft + cavity insulation, double glazing, A-rated boiler, low-energy lighting, and (where suitable) solar PV plus heat-pump retrofit.

3. Track the cost ceiling: the current 7-year-payback exemption caps the obligated investment. Where the EPC recommendations exceed the cap, register the exemption on the PRS Exemptions Register with supporting evidence.

4. Document the decision: an unregistered exemption claim is not a defence at enforcement. The PRS Register entry plus the EPC-recommendations document is the evidence pack.

Certaby's MEES check returns the current band, the 2030-prospective band (assuming any registered exemption), the cheapest sensible upgrade path, and a payback estimate using the EPC's cost-of-improvement values plus typical UK rent uplift per band. Run it free at /tools/letting-agent or as part of a full client check on the suite.

Source: MHCLG MEES 2030 Consultation

Last updated 2026-05-09.