EPC upgrades for landlords: plan improvements in the right order

For most privately rented homes in England and Wales, the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard means the property needs an EPC rating of at least E to be let, unless a valid exemption is registered. A valid EPC also has to be given to tenants at the start of a tenancy.

Rules can change, so it is worth checking the government guidance before making long-term decisions. Whatever happens with future rules, a well-planned upgrade usually makes a home easier to let, cheaper for tenants to run and less prone to damp.

It is tempting to pick the cheapest measure that lifts the rating. Sometimes that is right. Often it leads to spending twice: a measure fitted now has to be removed or changed later, or it causes condensation that becomes a disrepair complaint. A medium-term improvement plan sets out the measures that suit the property, the order to do them in and the moisture and ventilation risks to manage, so each pound spent moves you forward.

We plan around occupied homes. Some measures can be done between tenancies, others with tenants in place. In flats, work on walls, roofs or windows may need the freeholder’s or managing agent’s consent, and we help you understand what is in your control. We also keep damp and mould in view, because insulation over an existing damp problem makes things worse. See our condensation and ventilation risk page and our damp and mould reports.