New EPC Rules 2026: What Changed

2026 was a pivotal year for EPC policy. On 21 January 2026 the government published its Warm Homes Plan and confirmed the long-trailed EPC C requirement for rentals, then set out the timeline for the new Home Energy Model. If you own or let property, here's what actually changed.

What changed in 2026

• The 1 October 2030 deadline for privately rented properties to reach EPC C was confirmed in the government's PRS response — as a single deadline for all tenancies, dropping the earlier phased 2028/2030 approach. Full detail in our landlord rules 2030 guide.
• A £10,000 cost cap per property was set for landlords (up from £3,500), with qualifying spend counting from 1 October 2025.
• Maximum fines for the 2030 standard were set at £30,000 per property, per breach.
• The Home Energy Model launch was confirmed for H2 2027 (moved back from late 2026 on 10 March 2026) — see our EPC 2027 guide.
• RdSAP 10 — a more evidence-based assessment methodology — took effect on 15 June 2025 and now underpins every new EPC.

Grant schemes also changed in 2026

• ECO4 was extended by nine months in January 2026 and now ends on 31 December 2026, with no successor supplier obligation.
• The Great British Insulation Scheme closed as planned on 31 March 2026.
• The Boiler Upgrade Scheme was overhauled in April 2026: air-to-air heat pumps became eligible for a £2,500 grant, the EPC requirement for applications was removed, and the scheme was extended.
• A temporary £9,000 uplift for oil/LPG-heated homes was announced in June 2026, running 21 July 2026 – 31 March 2027.
• The English Housing Survey 2024–25 confirmed band C is now the most common EPC rating in England (52% of homes) — see EPC ratings explained.

The confirmed 2030 landlord standard

How "C" is measured is also changing: under the reformed EPCs the standard becomes a dual-metric test — a primary fabric-performance standard plus a secondary heating or smart-readiness standard. For properties valued under £100,000, the cost cap is 10% of the property's value rather than the full £10,000.

What to do now

• Check your property's current rating and its expiry date on the official register.
• Get a recommendations report and prioritise low-cost, high-impact upgrades — loft and cavity wall insulation first (see how to improve your EPC rating).
• Keep evidence of qualifying spend from 1 October 2025 onward; grant funding counts toward the cap (except Boiler Upgrade Scheme money).
• Budget ahead of 2030 — costs and installer demand will rise closer to the deadline. Our cost guide covers what a fresh assessment itself costs.