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The government has published its Warm Homes Plan, setting out its plans to cut energy bills, improve homes and support cleaner heating and electricity.
For private landlords, the main change is the proposed increase in Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) for the private rented sector (PRS).
Alongside the plan, the government has confirmed a target broadly aligned to Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) C by 2030, using reformed EPCs.
The proposed deadline for all relevant tenancies is 1 October 2030.
Landlords can plan upgrades around void periods, major refurbishments or the replacement of heating systems, kitchens and bathrooms.
Reformed EPCs are intended to show four headline metrics:
The proposed PRS standard uses two metrics:
Landlords would choose which secondary standard to meet, allowing them to select improvements suited to the property.
The proposed investment cap is £10,000 per property for compliance works. Where a landlord has invested up to the cap on relevant measures but the property still does not meet the required standard, the landlord would be able to rely on a cost-cap exemption.
A proposed Property Value Adjustment would reduce the maximum required spend to 10% of the property's value for properties worth less than £100,000.
The exemptions framework is expected to be refined to cover unsuitable measures and barriers to installation.
The government has set out two protections for early improvements:
For properties close to the C/D boundary, consider the timing of improvements and EPC assessments. For harder-to-treat homes, assess how proposed works would perform under the reformed metrics.
The Energy Independence Bill, introduced in the House of Commons on 4 November 2026, proposes stronger enforcement of minimum energy efficiency standards in privately rented homes across England and Wales. It would raise the statutory maximum domestic civil penalty from £5,000 to £30,000 and allow regulations to bring more houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), including parts of properties, within the standards.
The government also proposes stronger council compliance powers and a requirement to report enforcement action. Powers covering licences to occupy could extend the standards to short-term lets, although the government says it has no current plans to use those powers. The official factsheet links these proposals to the planned EPC C or equivalent standard from 1 October 2030. The changes depend on the Bill becoming law and the necessary implementing measures.
The detail will sit in regulations, guidance and the final EPC methodology. Landlords can prepare by: