Rented homes and commercial lets in England and Wales have to meet a Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES). Today the minimum for most lets is an EPC rating of E, unless a valid exemption is registered.
This free checker tests an EPC rating against today’s minimum and against what the government has set out next: a higher standard for rented homes by 1 October 2030 (described as similar to EPC C, with a £10,000 cost cap), and EPC B by 2031 for larger commercial lets (over 1,000 m²), which the government confirmed in June 2026 that it intends to require.
| EPC A to E | Meets today’s minimum for most domestic lets |
|---|---|
| EPC F or G | Can’t be let unless a valid exemption is registered |
| Domestic plan for 2030 | Planned higher standard by 1 October 2030, cost cap £10,000 per property (subject to Parliament) |
| Commercial plan | EPC B by 2031 planned for buildings over 1,000 m² (subject to legislation) |
Next step
Plan which improvements to make, roughly what they cost and how they move the rating, ahead of the 2030 standard.
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In England and Wales most rented homes need an EPC rating of E or above to be let, unless a valid exemption is registered on the PRS Exemptions Register. Commercial lets also have a minimum of E.
The government response published on 21 January 2026 sets out a higher standard for privately rented homes by 1 October 2030, measured on new EPC metrics and described as similar to EPC C, with a cost cap of £10,000 per property. It is subject to Parliament, so the details can still change.
Not normally. A property rated F or G can only be let if a valid exemption applies and is registered, for example where the cost cap has been reached or the required work isn’t allowed.
On the government’s Find an energy certificate service on GOV.UK, by postcode. An EPC is usually valid for 10 years.
Education, not advice. Rules change and depend on your circumstances. Check GOV.UK and speak to a qualified adviser before you act.