BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, UK. September 30th, 2026 – Landlords across England and Wales are being urged to start planning for forthcoming energy efficiency requirements, as the 2030 EPC deadline raises fresh questions over whether to upgrade lower-rated rental properties or sell them altogether.
Privately rented homes will need to meet a new EPC C-equivalent standard by 1 October 2030, unless an exemption applies. Landlords could be required to invest up to £10,000 per property in qualifying energy efficiency improvements.
Government analysis estimates the average spend required to meet the new standard could be around £5,400 per property. LandlordBuyer says the cost of improving older rental properties could encourage some landlords to reassess whether to retain or sell parts of their portfolios.
The UK Government has confirmed plans to raise Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for privately rented homes in England and Wales, with all tenancies required to comply with the higher standard by 1 October 2030.
Under the new framework, properties will be required to achieve the equivalent of an EPC C rating against new EPC metrics. Government guidance states that the policy is intended to improve the energy efficiency of rental homes, reduce energy bills and help more households move out of fuel poverty.
The financial implications are likely to be a key consideration for landlords.
The Government has confirmed a maximum investment requirement of £10,000 per property. If a landlord has invested up to the relevant cap but the property still cannot achieve the required standard, they may be able to register an exemption lasting 10 years.
Government impact assessments estimate that, once the cost cap is taken into account, the average spend per property could be approximately £5,400.
For landlords with several lower-rated properties, those costs could quickly become significant and potentially influence decisions over which properties remain viable as long-term investments.
Jason Harris-Cohen, Managing Director of LandlordBuyer, said: “2030 might still sound a long way away, but landlords with older or lower-rated properties should be thinking about their options now. For some, investing in improvements will make complete financial sense. For others, particularly where substantial work is required, selling could become the more attractive option.”
The forthcoming EPC requirements are also arriving during a period of considerable regulatory change within England’s private rented sector.
The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 came into force for most private tenancies on 1 May 2026, ending Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions and moving most existing assured shorthold tenancies onto assured periodic tenancies.
LandlordBuyer believes this combination of regulatory change and potential capital expenditure makes portfolio planning increasingly important.
Importantly, landlords considering an exit do not necessarily have to wait until their property becomes vacant.
Jason Harris-Cohen added: “Every property should be assessed on its own merits. Landlords need to understand the current EPC rating, the potential cost of improvements and the long-term return the property is generating.
“Doing that analysis early gives landlords much more time to decide whether upgrading, holding or selling is the right option before the 2030 deadline arrives.”
With just over four years until the new standards take effect, 2026 and 2027 could prove to be important planning years for landlords determining the future shape of their rental portfolios.
ENDS