Will the minimum EPC rating rise to C?

Government consultations have discussed raising the minimum EPC rating to C for private rentals, with different dates suggested for new and existing tenancies. Details and timing have shifted several times — check the current position on GOV.UK before relying on either figure.

What are the MEES exemptions?

Exemptions include the property having reached its cost cap on improvements, the necessary works not being possible with landlord or third-party consent, or the improvements devaluing the property. Exemptions must be registered on the PRS Exemptions Register to be valid.

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What is the minimum EPC rating for a rental property?

Where the current E floor comes from, when an exemption can be registered, and how proposals for a higher minimum have moved through consultation.

The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) regulations set a floor for the EPC rating of private rentals in England. This page summarises where that floor sits, when an exemption can apply, and how consultations have discussed raising the minimum. As with the rest of CertDiary, this is a plain summary — not legal advice.

The current floor: E

Since MEES was extended to existing tenancies in 2020, private rentals in England generally cannot be let with an EPC rating below E. Where a property has an F or G rating, a landlord either has to spend up to a cost cap on improvements or register a valid exemption.

Registered exemptions

All relevant improvements made and rating still below E.
Improvements would require third-party consent that has been refused.
Improvements would devalue the property by more than 5%.
New landlord exemption (6 months from becoming the landlord in certain cases).

Exemptions must be registered on the PRS Exemptions Register with supporting evidence. They are time-limited and often need renewing.

Where the C proposal came from

Consultations have proposed a higher minimum — an EPC rating of C for new tenancies and, later, existing ones. The timing and detail have moved several times. Government guidance is the source of truth on where the proposal actually sits at any given date.

What this means in the diary

Even under the current rules, an EPC that expires and is replaced with a lower rating can push a property below MEES. That is why the expiry date matters as much as the rating. Keep the current PDF and rating against the property on the EPC diary page, so a re-let never happens on the wrong side of the line.

If the rating needs improving, see the sister guide on how to improve an EPC rating.

Frequently asked questions

What is the current minimum EPC rating for lettings in England?: Under the current Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards, a private rented property in England generally cannot be let with an EPC rating below E, unless a valid exemption has been registered on the PRS Exemptions Register.
Will the minimum EPC rating rise to C?: Government consultations have discussed raising the minimum EPC rating to C for private rentals, with different dates suggested for new and existing tenancies. Details and timing have shifted several times — check the current position on GOV.UK before relying on either figure.
What are the MEES exemptions?: Exemptions include the property having reached its cost cap on improvements, the necessary works not being possible with landlord or third-party consent, or the improvements devaluing the property. Exemptions must be registered on the PRS Exemptions Register to be valid.

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