Energy efficiency webinar – your FAQs on EPC C

While the 2030 deadline for new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) has grabbed the headlines our latest webinar focussed on why it's what happens in 2029 that really matters.

Under the plans you will have until 2030 to hit a C, but if you want to do so under the current system you only have until 1st October 2029.

After that you’ll need to have your properties assessed under a new model, known as the Home Energy Model (HEM), something you can read more about here.

The session explored what the proposed reforms could mean in practice, why early preparation matters, and the steps you can take now to stay compliant and protect your investment. 

Here are some of your frequently asked questions.

Q: How will the cost cap exemption work?

A: The headline figure is £10,000 per property. Here's how it breaks down:

• Backdated spending. Any money spent on energy efficiency improvements from 1 October 2025 onwards counts towards the cap, so early action isn't wasted.
• Lower-value properties. If your property is worth less than £100,000, a "Property Value Adjustment" applies instead, capping your required spend at 10% of the property's value.
• Grants. Government grant funding generally counts towards the £10,000 cap, with one notable exception: money from the Boiler Upgrade Scheme does not count.
• Reaching the limit. Once you've spent up to the cap, or your next measure would take you over it, you can register a cost cap exemption. This lasts 10 years.

Q: How will the solid wall insulation exemption work?

This new exemption means you won't be forced to install solid wall insulation if you don't want to, for example if you're concerned about damp or structural issues, or simply prefer not to.

It only applies as a last resort: solid wall insulation must be the final measure standing between your property and the fabric performance metric. Once registered, the exemption lasts 10 years.

Q: Will HMOs have to comply with the new MEES regulations?

Yes. Every HMO needs a single  EPC of C or above covering the whole building,  even if you let it room by room. You don't need a separate EPC for each room.

Q: What can I do if the freeholder won't allow the work?

Use the third-party consent exemption. This  applies when you need someone else's agreement to carry out an improvement, be that a freeholder, superior landlord, planning authority, or tenant and that consent is refused, or only offered on unreasonable terms.

You must actively ask and be turned down; if you don’t ask to make the improvements you won’t qualify. Keep a paper trail from day one: written refusals, emails, and any other correspondence, so you can prove it later.

Q: If I obtain an EPC now, will it still be valid when the changes come in?

Yes. If you get an EPC C now, using either the current Energy Efficiency Rating (EER) methodology or the new Home Energy Model (HEM) once it launches, it will remain valid for Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) purposes until that certificate expires in 10 years’ time. That means an EPC C obtained now could keep you compliant well into the mid-2030s..

From 1 October 2029, HEM becomes the only methodology that will be used for new EPCs. So, if you haven't reached EPC C under the current system by then, any new EPC you get will be assessed under the new rules, which work differently. That's the main reason many landlords are looking at improvements now rather than waiting.

Q: Does this apply equally in Wales?

Yes. The regulations, including the EPC C standard, the £10,000 cost cap, and the exemptions above, apply equally to private landlords in England and Wales.

Q: What standard will I actually need to meet under the new HEM?

EPC C isn't one simple target. You'll need to meet two metrics: fabric performance first (how well-insulated and airtight your property is), then a secondary standard, either ‘heating systems’ or ‘smart readiness’, whichever suits your property better. You only move to the secondary metric once you've met the first,  or hold a valid exemption for it.

Q: What happens if I don't comply?

Once the new rules are in force, local authorities will be able to fine landlords up to £30,000 per property for letting a home that doesn't meet the required standard and doesn't have a valid exemption, a significant rise from the current £5,000 maximum.

Q: Is any of this law yet?

Not yet. The Government has confirmed its policy direction, but the detailed rules will come through secondary legislation, expected in 2027. Details could still change before then, so we will keep you updated.  Make sure you are signed up for our weekly newsletter and follow us on social media for all the latest.

If you registered for this webinar and were unable to attend, you can watch it back here.

Next webinars in the series

We will continue the series in autumn with three further webinars that you can add to your calendars: 

• 30th September: MEES and the Renters’ Rights Act: a compliance risk you can’t ignore.

• 4th November: The new EPC system: what’s changing and why it matters.

• 4th December: Upgrading to EPC C for under £10,000: what landlords need to know.

More information

• Our award-winning training academy runs an Energy Efficiency and MEES Compliance course covering all your obligations and how to meet them - with places available this month.
• Our website also has a dedicated hub outlining all aspects of the MEES changes