# Landlord EPC and minimum energy standards > Mortgages & first homes · Last updated 25 September 2026 Canonical HTML: https://moneyguide.org.uk/mortgages/landlord-epc-requirements/ Markdown mirror: https://moneyguide.org.uk/mortgages/landlord-epc-requirements.md ## Quick answer England and Wales landlords cannot let most domestic properties with an EPC rating below E unless a valid MEES exemption is registered — improvements up to a £3,500 cost cap may be required first. ## Who should skip this Skip this page if you need a personal recommendation or a live quote. This is general UK information — confirm today's figures with the official source linked below. Energy Performance Certificates are not just paperwork for letting agents — they set the minimum standard for legally renting out most homes. The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) Regulations require domestic private rented properties to reach at least EPC band E before letting. This guide explains landlord duties. It is information only, not legal advice. ## Key facts - Domestic private rented properties must have a minimum EPC rating of E to be let lawfully - Since 1 April 2020, the rule applies to continuing tenancies, not just new ones - Landlords must spend up to £3,500 including VAT on improvements before claiming a cost-cap exemption - Valid exemptions must be registered on the PRS Exemptions Register ## Which properties MEES covers MEES applies to domestic private rented properties let on assured tenancies (including assured periodic tenancies) and other qualifying tenancy types that legally require an EPC. If your property is not required to have an EPC, MEES may not apply. Listed buildings and certain other properties may be exempt from needing an EPC at all — but if an EPC exists and shows F or G, MEES rules still bind you unless a separate exemption applies. ## Meeting the minimum E rating Check the EPC recommendations report for cost-effective improvements — loft insulation, heating controls and draught proofing are common upgrades. Carry out works that will raise the rating to E or above. If the property remains below E after spending up to £3,500 on relevant improvements, you may register a 'high cost' exemption on the PRS Exemptions Register. Exemptions last five years and must be renewed. ## Letting, penalties and the Renters' Rights Act You must provide a valid EPC to new tenants. Letting a sub-standard property without exemption can lead to fines from local enforcement authorities. An EPC is valid for 10 years unless superseded by a newer certificate. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 focuses on tenancy and possession reform rather than raising the MEES band, but energy standards remain enforceable alongside selective licensing and the private rented sector database, which opens to landlords from 15 December 2026. ## Frequently asked questions ### Will the minimum standard rise to EPC C? Government confirmed in January 2026 that the minimum will rise to band C for all domestic private tenancies from 1 October 2030, with a £10,000 cost cap and exemption register. Until then the legal minimum remains E. ### Does MEES apply to commercial lets? Non-domestic MEES rules are separate, with their own timelines and exemption tests. This guide covers domestic private rented property. ### Can I pass improvement costs to tenants? You cannot typically recover MEES compliance costs through a rent increase outside the normal Section 13 process, and tenants are not obliged to pay for energy upgrades that are the landlord's statutory duty. ## Primary source https://www.gov.uk/guidance/domestic-private-rented-property-minimum-energy-efficiency-standard-landlord-guidance ## Related - [Selective licensing and registration](https://moneyguide.org.uk/mortgages/landlord-selective-licensing/) - [Renters' Rights Act: tenant guide](https://moneyguide.org.uk/mortgages/renters-rights-act-tenant-guide/) --- Independent UK money guidance from [Money Guide](https://moneyguide.org.uk). Information only — not regulated financial advice.