CPS Homes

Did you know the law around EPCs is changing?

On the 1st April 2018, a law was passed meaning that Landlords would be unable to grant a new tenancy if the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for their property did not show at least a rating of ‘E’ for energy efficiency. 

However, this is now set to change again on the 1st April 2020, to include all existing tenancies. So if you have a tenant living in a property that currently has an F or G rating, it will soon be illegal. 

We’ve made sure every property we manage is fully compliant, but if you want to check on the rating on your house or flat, you can do so via the EPC Register. You might also want to check it’s still in-date (they last for 10 years).


EPCs have been a legal requirement for all rented properties since 2008. They rate a property’s energy efficiency between A and G; with A being the highest rating possible. They show how efficiently a home uses energy, the cost of running a home and recommendations on how to improve the overall energy efficiency.

My property has an 'F' or 'G' rating, which is below the new minimum 'E' standard. What happens now?

The Energy Efficiency Regulations 2015 state that, from 1st October 2016, all rented homes in England and Wales must have an EPC rating of E or higher.

The new law states that it will be illegal to have tenants in a property until a new EPC is produced demonstrating its sufficiently energy efficient, so it’s very important that this is reviewed early to avoid potential fines.

How can I improve the rating at my property? 

Every EPC comes with a list of suggestions on how to improve the property’s overall efficiency, along with a list of general costs. Common recommendations include: 

  • Insulating your floors, roof, loft and walls – reducing the need for heating. 
  • Installing double glazing – it keeps in much more heat than single-glazed windows.
  • Get some solar panels – they are a more environmentally friendly way of producing energy/ 
  • Use low-energy lighting – switching to energy-saving lightbulbs. 
  • Consider smart heating controls. 

I've done some work to my property since the EPC on record was produced, so I think my property is now rated higher than shown. How do I prove this?

The easiest way is to have a new EPC produced, which costs in the region of £75 when done through CPS Homes. They last for 10 years.

What are the penalties for not having an EPC with at least an 'E' rating?

The biggest penalty is that you can’t let out your property. If you do, it’s illegal and a civil penalty of up to £4,000 can be imposed.

06 March 2020

The information contained within this article was correct at the date of publishing and is not guaranteed to remain correct in the present day.

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