Landlords and letting agents face new EPC rules in two weeks
New EPC assessments being described as the "most significant change" in more than 10 years, come into force on 15 June.
Landlords are facing the “most significant change” to EPC assessments in more than 10 years later this month.
On 15 June, an update to the methodology for EPC ratings comes into force, which could mean increased costs for landlords.
Propertymark says the introduction of ‘RdSAP 10’ is the “most significant” change in over a decade, and is “expected to improve the accuracy of EPCs”.
Increased costs
But some Propertymark members have already reported increased costs for the more detailed assessments.
“Propertymark welcomes improvements that make EPCs more robust and meaningful,” it says.
Push for guidance
“However, we continue to push for clear guidance and support for landlords and agents to navigate upcoming changes, realistic implementation timelines that allow the sector to prepare, and funding to help with the cost of improvements, particularly for small landlords.
“These themes are consistent with our wider work calling for reform of the EPC system, fairer access to retrofit funding, and better communication from governments to landlords and property professionals.”
It will give landlords and agents a much clearer picture of what’s needed.”
Stuart Fairlie, MD at Elmhurst Energy, a leading provider of training and accreditation for energy efficiency professionals, says: “The changes bring long-overdue improvements to the assessment process. For example, there is more detailed data collection, and this means EPCs are more accurate and reliable.
“It will give landlords and agents a much clearer picture of what’s needed to meet proposed energy efficiency targets,” he says.
“By collecting more data on-site, energy assessors will need to spend more time at a property, and therefore the cost of an EPC may change. But in return, building owners will receive a more valuable product.”
There seemed to be little purpose in the EPC when it was initially pushed through, and even less now. Sadly, the proposed changes will only serve to remove more rental stock from the already depleted rental market. I don’t see buyers or renters basing their decision to move on this, especially as many are lucky to even to find a property at all..
EPC put some welcome colour into our set-up tenancy documentation.
It has never in 15 years (its an old piece of European Union legislation) ever made the slightest difference to any letting decision on the part of the tenant. With less than 2 weeks to go to 15 June 2025 we still have no details of changes.
Ed Milliband is forcing landlords to make improvements by 2030, classic vanity project. It costs the government nothing and the tenants are not interested.
I like to make my properties energy efficient as possible, as this keeps tenants happy as long there are no changes to their circumstance i.e. move/change of job, relationship change.
In the 10 years since EPC’s came into force for rental properties i have had less than 1 tenant for each of those years ask a question about the EPC and doubt they even bothered looking at it let alone it affect their decision to rent the property. More data on an EPC simply means a decreasing likelihood it will be taken into account.
More cost, fewer landlords, less property available, higher rents. I wouldn’t mind if I ever was asked about EPCs but since they came in I have had two queries it just seems that tenants are not interested in them at all. Or is it that now property is in short supply and they will take whatever is available if the price is what they can afford.
We have so much red tape in the UK now we could tie a bow round the equator.