LandlordEPCs and minimum energy standards for landlords
Since 1 April 2020 you can't let, or continue to let, a property with an EPC rating below E unless you've registered a valid exemption. The PRS database will ask for the EPC and any exemption.
Certificate expiry checker
The rules
- Minimum rating to let: E.
- An EPC is valid for 10 years. Check yours will still be valid when your region's registration opens.
- You only have to spend up to £3,500 including VAT on improvements. If that doesn't reach E, you can claim a high-cost exemption.
Exemptions
| Exemption | Lasts |
|---|---|
| All relevant improvements made | 5 years |
| High cost (over the £3,500 cap) | 5 years |
| Wall insulation (would damage the property) | 5 years |
| Third-party consent refused | 5 years (or until that tenancy ends, if the tenant refused) |
| Property devaluation | 5 years |
| Recently became a landlord | 6 months |
Exemptions must be registered on the government's PRS Exemptions Register, which the public can search.
Penalties
Up to £2,000 if you're in breach for less than 3 months, and up to £4,000 for 3 months or more. There are further fines for false exemption details or ignoring a compliance notice, up to £5,000 per property in total.
What's next
The government's stated aim is to bring as many privately rented homes as possible up to EPC C by 2030. The detailed rules aren't final yet, so check GOV.UK before planning major works.
The workbook flags any property rated F or G that has no exemption, and tracks every EPC's expiry date.
All three deadlines in one spreadsheet
The Landlord Register-Ready Workbook holds every field the registration service asks for, tracks your certificates with red/amber/green alerts, and turns your rent and expenses into Making Tax Digital quarterly totals. One payment, no subscription. Works in Excel and Google Sheets.
Buy the workbook — £19Source: GOV.UK Domestic private rented property: minimum energy efficiency standard. Not legal advice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Checked against GOV.UK on 30 September 2026. Rules change — always confirm on GOV.UK.