EPC Regulations - UPDATE
Senior Associate Partner, Head of Residential Lettings
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Join mailing listThe government has made the decision to delay the introduction of the new EPC Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) for rental properties. Originally scheduled to change in 2028, the government have now delayed this until 2030.
Where are we now?
The current standards, where a rental property must have an EPC rating of Band E or better, have been in place since 2018. This prevents landlords, with properties rated at an F or G, from being able to grant tenancies to new or existing tenants, in addition to continuing to let such a property, without a valid exemption.
The New Standards
Under the Warm Home Plan, issued by the Government on the 21st January 2026, all landlords, either signing new agreements, or with currently running tenancies, will now have until October 2030, to ensure their rental properties have an EPC rating of Band C or above – or a valid PRS exemption obtained.
Investing in Energy Efficiency
The government has also confirmed its plan to change the maximum investment cap required for EPC compliance, which will now be set at £10,000.
In addition, any energy efficiency works undertaken in a property between October 2025 and the deadline, will count towards the investment cap.
For landlords, this change in timetable will allow additional time to plan investment works, particularly for older or less energy-efficient properties where upgrades can be complex and costly.
This should be seen as an opportunity for landlords to make best use of the time they have available, in order to make the necessary changes. Landlords who plan early, understand the cost cap, and take a phased approach to improvements will be best placed in the letting market from 2030 and beyond into the future.
January 2026
EPC Regulations - UPDATE
The government has made the decision to delay the introduction of the new EPC Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) for rental properties. Originally scheduled to change in 2028, the government have now delayed this until 2030.
EPC Regulations - UPDATE
Snowdrops in the Cotswolds: A Winter Highlight at Painswick
As winter begins to loosen its grip on the Cotswolds, one of the most uplifting signs of the changing seasons quietly emerges, snowdrops. These delicate white flowers, often pushing through frost-hardened ground, bring a sense of hope and renewal, and nowhere is this more beautifully displayed than the snowdrops at Painswick Rococo Garden.
Snowdrops in the Cotswolds: A Winter Highlight at Painswick
Inheritance Tax and Agricultural Property Relief
This has been a hot topic since the surprise announcements in the Autumn budget of 2024 and has threatened to turn upside down tax planning for farmers and the affordability of succession. The short article below captures the key facts and implications which have been debated from farmhouse kitchen tables up to the Government in Westminster and at every level in between…
Inheritance Tax and Agricultural Property Relief
A Very Happy New Year
Happy New Year! We are all back and fully underway into 2026. It is early days, but properties are already going under offer across all our offices and exchanges are securing homes for excited new owners.
A Very Happy New Year
