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If you follow us on social media, you might have seen that EPC ratings have been a hot topic recently… especially over on our TikTok, where we’ve had loads of questions come in from landlords and tenants. 

With big changes on the horizon, it’s no surprise there’s some confusion about what it all means and who it will affect. To help clear things up, we recently welcomed the lovely Julie from Telford EPC to the Foden Property office for a chat. Julie is a local expert in energy assessments and gave us some brilliant insights into what the changes involve and what people should be doing now to prepare!

So, what’s changing?

There are actually two major reforms coming that landlords in particular need to be aware of:

1. Changes to EPC Ratings (July 2026)

From July 2026, the way EPCs are calculated will be changing. The government plans to move from the current SAP model to a new Home Energy Model (HEM).

This new system will look at things like fabric performance, heating systems, smart readiness, and overall energy cost differently — and crucially, it will view electric heating much more favourably, while gas and other fossil fuels will be rated less kindly.

It will also mean EPC certificates are only valid for five years, instead of ten.

This is important because if you secure a good EPC rating before July 2026, it will still be valid for 10 years under the current, more favourable criteria!

2. New Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES)

Separately, there are also new rules being proposed to increase the minimum required EPC rating for rental properties.

  • For new tenancies, the property would need to meet at least a C rating by 2028.

  • For all existing tenancies, this would apply by 2030.

There’s a proposed spend cap of £15,000 to improve properties, with an average cost estimated at around £6,500. Landlords who can’t achieve a C rating after spending up to the cap could apply for an exemption, but only if the work is done after the new regulations officially come in. Properties that aren't compliant could face fines of up to £30,000.

Why acting early matters

Because of the way the timelines overlap, there’s a real window of opportunity now.

If landlords act before July 2026, they can upgrade their properties to a C rating under the current EPC system (where gas boilers are rated well), secure a 10-year certificate, and avoid a potential drop in their rating when the new model comes into effect.

If you wait until after July 2026, your property's rating could fall - and getting it back up to a C under the new system could be trickier and much more expensive.

Julie explained that upgrading your property and getting a fresh EPC isn’t complicated - most assessors can book you in within a few days, and inspections are usually quick. Plus, even if you’re not planning to sell or rent right now, a better EPC could make your property much more attractive to future buyers or tenants.

What’s next?

We'll continue to talk about this across our social media platforms… if you’ve got questions, keep them coming. We're always happy to help decode the jargon and keep things simple.

And a big thank you again to Julie from Telford EPC for popping in and helping us get to grips with the upcoming changes.

If you’re unsure about your current EPC rating or want advice on how to improve it, it’s a great idea to book an assessment now and start planning ahead - it could save you a lot of stress (and money) later!