EPC Changes Are Coming: Why Landlords Should Review Their Energy Rating Now
Energy Performance Certificates are entering a period of change. For landlords, this is not just a technical issue. It is a compliance, cost-planning and risk-management issue.
The government has confirmed its intention to raise energy-efficiency standards in the private rented sector, with rented homes expected to meet a higher EPC standard by 2030 unless a valid exemption applies. At the same time, the way EPCs are calculated and presented is also being reformed.
That combination matters.
A property that appears close to a C rating under the current EPC methodology may not be assessed in exactly the same way once the new system is fully in force. For some landlords, it may therefore be sensible to review the property now, understand whether targeted improvements are worthwhile, and consider whether obtaining a fresh EPC under the current regime gives a clearer compliance runway.
This should not be viewed as a shortcut or loophole. It is simply sensible planning.
What is changing?
At present, domestic EPCs are generally assessed using SAP or RdSAP methodology. This produces the familiar EPC rating from A to G, with A being the most efficient and G the least efficient.
The government is now moving towards a new Home Energy Model, often referred to as HEM. The intention is to create a more detailed and modern assessment framework, with future EPCs expected to show performance across several separate areas rather than relying so heavily on one headline rating.
These areas are expected to include:
- Fabric performance — how well the building retains heat;
- Heating system — the efficiency and carbon impact of the heating system;
- Smart readiness — the property’s ability to work with smart technologies;
- Energy cost — a clearer indication of likely running costs.
This means the emphasis may shift. A measure that helps under the current EPC calculation may not have the same impact under the future system, and some technologies may receive greater attention than they have historically.
Solar panels, battery storage, power diverters, smart heating controls and heat pumps are all likely to become more relevant in the years ahead. However, landlords should be cautious about spending money on major works without first understanding how those works are likely to affect the property’s rating.
Why review an EPC now?
The main reason is control.
A current EPC review can help a landlord understand whether the property is already close to a C rating, whether small targeted improvements could make a meaningful difference, and whether a new EPC under the current methodology is worth obtaining.
This is particularly relevant where a property is currently rated D but close to the threshold for C. In some cases, relatively modest works may be enough to improve the rating. In others, the recommended improvements may be expensive, disruptive or unlikely to produce much EPC benefit.
The important point is that this should be checked before money is spent.
A proper review can help identify:
- Whether the current EPC is still reliable;
- Whether the property may score differently under the newer RdSAP conventions;
- Which improvements are likely to have the strongest EPC impact;
- Which works may have little or no benefit;
- Whether a fresh EPC should be obtained now;
- Whether it is better to wait for further clarity under the new system.
For landlords, this is not simply about renewing an EPC. It is about avoiding unnecessary expenditure and making sure any improvement works are properly targeted.
Recent EPCs may need a targeted re-check
If your EPC was issued on or after 15 June 2025, it may already reflect newer RdSAP conventions. However, a targeted re-evaluation may still be useful, particularly where the property is close to achieving a C rating.
Recent changes may affect certain assessment areas, including filled cavity walls, loft-room efficiency and the treatment of smart meters.
A targeted re-evaluation can look at the existing EPC, test possible “what-if” scenarios, and advise whether specific improvements are likely to move the rating. This can be particularly useful where the property is only a few points short of a C.
Older EPCs may need a fuller reassessment
If the EPC was issued before 15 June 2025, a more comprehensive reassessment may be sensible.
Older EPC assessments were often based on less detailed data. Newer assessment conventions may require more information about glazing, window size and orientation, wall construction, draught-proofing, shutters, room-in-roof areas, hot-water systems and ventilation.
In practical terms, this means an unchanged property may not necessarily achieve exactly the same score when reassessed under newer conventions.
That does not mean every older EPC is wrong, or that every landlord needs to act immediately. It does mean that landlords should be cautious about relying on an old certificate when planning future compliance.
A fuller reassessment can provide a more accurate view of where the property currently stands and which improvement measures are likely to be worthwhile.
Do not spend before modelling the likely impact
One of the most common mistakes landlords can make is assuming that any energy-efficiency improvement will automatically improve the EPC rating in a proportionate way.
That is not always the case.
Some works are valuable for comfort, maintenance or long-term asset quality, but may produce only a limited EPC improvement. Other works may help significantly, but only if they are properly specified, evidenced and assessed.
Before committing to expensive heating, insulation, glazing or renewable-energy works, landlords should obtain property-specific advice. A generic list of EPC recommendations is not always enough.
The question should not be: “What could we do?”
The better question is: “Which works are likely to make a measurable difference to this specific property, under the current assessment method, and at what cost?”
A practical approach for landlords
Landlords should start by checking three things:
- When was the current EPC issued?
- What is the current rating and how close is the property to a C?
- Is the property likely to need physical improvements, or is the main issue that the EPC should be reviewed under newer assumptions?
Where the EPC is recent, a targeted re-evaluation may be sufficient. Where the EPC is older, a more comprehensive reassessment may be more appropriate.
If the property is close to a C rating, it may be worth considering targeted works and a fresh EPC under the current methodology. If the property is some distance from a C, the landlord may need a broader improvement plan and should avoid rushing into works without proper advice.
Our advice
The EPC system is changing, and landlords should not leave this until the last minute.
Acting now does not mean carrying out every possible improvement immediately. It means understanding the property’s current position, identifying realistic options, and making decisions while the current methodology is still known.
For some landlords, the right decision may be to do nothing for now. For others, it may be sensible to carry out targeted improvements and secure a new EPC. The key is to make that decision based on property-specific advice rather than assumption.
Maalems can help landlords review their current EPC position, assess whether a property is close to a C rating, and arrange appropriate EPC advice before improvement works are undertaken.
This guidance is intended as general information for landlords. It is not legal, financial, structural, planning, building-control or tax advice. EPC methodology, government guidance and assessment software may change, and any projected rating improvements should be treated as indicative rather than guaranteed.