Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are set to change significantly over the next few years, with new rules expected to affect how homes are assessed for energy efficiency. Understanding these changes is essential for staying informed and compliant.
In this article, we explain what landlords and homeowners need to know about the 2030 EPC changes, including what EPCs are, the upcoming reforms to EPC requirements, and how Woodcock Sash Windows can help improve your property’s energy performance.
Please Note: EPC regulations apply across the UK, but the main rules referred to in this article relate to England and Wales, where the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) methodology and Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) are currently in use. Scotland and Northern Ireland operate slightly different EPC frameworks.
Key Takeaways
- Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) measure a property’s energy efficiency on a scale from A to G, based on factors such as insulation, heating systems, and construction materials.
- By 2030, EPCs are expected to shift to a new Home Energy Model with multiple performance measures, including fabric efficiency, heating system performance, smart readiness, and energy cost, with privately rented homes expected to meet a minimum EPC rating of C.
- Woodcock Sash Windows helps improve the energy efficiency of properties through high-performance Accoya timber windows and doors, draught-proofing, and energy-efficient glazing, reducing heat loss and supporting stronger EPC ratings.
What Is an EPC?
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is a document that measures the energy efficiency of a property, giving it a rating from A to G.
EPC ratings are based on a property’s Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) score, which assesses the energy performance of a building based on factors such as insulation, heating systems, and construction materials.
The table below illustrates the different EPC ratings:
| EPC Rating | SAP Score | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| A | 92–100 | Very energy efficient with the lowest running costs |
| B | 81–91 | Highly energy efficient |
| C | 69–80 | Good energy efficiency |
| D | 55–68 | Average energy efficiency |
| E | 39–54 | Below average energy efficiency |
| F | 21–38 | Poor energy efficiency |
| G | 1–20 | Very poor energy efficiency with higher energy costs |
EPCs are legally required when a property is:
- Sold
- Rented
- Newly built
In addition to providing an overall energy rating, an EPC includes information on a property’s estimated energy use and recommendations for improving efficiency, such as upgrading insulation or replacing inefficient windows.
An EPC is valid for 10 years from the date of issue. If energy efficiency improvements are made during that time, there is no legal requirement to obtain a new EPC, although homeowners or landlords may choose to commission an updated certificate to reflect the improvements.
What Are the Current EPC Regulations?
At present, EPC requirements in England and Wales are primarily used to ensure transparency and set minimum energy efficiency standards when properties are sold or rented.
Key rules include:
- A valid EPC is required before a property can be sold or let.
- Privately rented homes must meet a minimum rating of E (or above) under current standards.
- Properties rated F or G cannot be let, unless a valid exemption is in place under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) framework.
- EPC ratings are produced using the SAP methodology.
In practice, EPCs currently act as both a compliance requirement and a minimum legal standard, particularly within the rental sector.
What Are the Updated Regulations for EPCs?
The UK government is planning a major overhaul of EPCs as part of wider energy efficiency reform aimed at improving how homes are assessed and upgraded. These changes form part of a long-term shift in energy policy designed to support national decarbonisation targets and reduce household energy demand.
Below we list the key changes being implemented.
1. New EPC Calculation Method (Home Energy Model)
The current SAP methodology is expected to be replaced by the Home Energy Model (HEM).
HEM is a more advanced energy modelling system that simulates how a home performs in real-world conditions. Unlike the current system, which relies heavily on standardised assumptions and cost-based calculations, HEM is designed to:
- model heat loss and heat retention more precisely,
- account for different heating systems and energy sources in greater detail,
- improve consistency between predicted and actual energy performance.
It also links more closely to wider government policy, including programmes such as the Warm Homes Plan, which is intended to support large-scale home energy efficiency improvements across the UK.
2. New Multi-Metric EPC Ratings
Instead of a single overall score, future EPCs are expected to use multiple indicators to assess a property’s performance, including:
- Fabric performance: Measures how well the physical structure of the home retains heat, including walls, roof, floors, and windows. The aim is to reduce heat loss through improvements to insulation and building fabric, regardless of the heating system in place.
- Heating system performance: Assesses the efficiency and carbon impact of a property’s heating and hot water systems. This encourages a move towards lower-carbon technologies, such as heat pumps, and reduces reliance on high-emission fossil fuel systems such as gas and oil boilers.
- Smart readiness: Evaluates how well a property can integrate with smart controls and energy systems, such as smart meters and automated heating controls, allowing energy use to be optimised and demand to be managed more efficiently.
- Energy cost: Estimates the annual cost of running the home, including heating, hot water, lighting, and ventilation, based on typical usage. This metric aligns most closely with the familiar cost-based approach used in current EPC ratings.
This means EPCs will show a more detailed breakdown of how a home performs, rather than reducing everything to a single rating.
3. Minimum EPC Standard Tightening
The government has confirmed the direction of travel towards raising minimum standards for privately rented homes, with a proposed requirement for properties to reach an EPC rating of C (or equivalent under the new system).
This is a significant increase from the current minimum of EPC E.
Please Note: Because the assessment methodology is changing, an EPC C under the new system may not be directly comparable to an EPC C under the current system.
When Do the New EPC Regulations Come Into Effect?
The exact timetable for these EPC changes is not yet fully locked into legislation. However, the government has set out a strategy and expects to roll out the rules in the following phases:
- Second Half of 2027 (The Soft Launch): The new HEM and the four new multi-metric ratings will officially launch. Assessors will begin using them, but the old system can still be used during this transition period.
- 1 October 2029 (The Cutoff for New EPCs): The old calculation system is turned off for new assessments. Every single new EPC issued from this date forward must legally use the new model. Existing EPCs issued before this date remain valid until they expire.
- 1 October 2030 (The Landlord Deadline): This is the ultimate legal deadline. By this date, it will become illegal to rent out any domestic property that does not meet the new minimum EPC Band C standard.
What Do Landlords and Homeowners Need to Do?
While the final details of the reforms are still being developed, there are several steps property owners can take now to prepare for future EPC requirements and improve their property’s energy performance.
- Review your current EPC: Check your property’s existing rating and read through the recommendations provided. These can help identify the improvements most likely to increase your EPC score.
- Improve insulation where possible: Upgrading loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, or floor insulation can help reduce heat loss and improve a property’s overall energy efficiency.
- Address inefficient heating systems: Older gas or oil boilers may be less efficient than modern condensing boilers or low-carbon alternatives such as heat pumps. Improving heating efficiency can have a significant impact on energy performance.
- Reduce heat loss through windows and doors: Poorly performing windows can affect a property’s ability to retain heat. Upgrading to energy-efficient glazing or improving draught-proofing can help improve thermal performance. At Woodcock Sash Windows, we offer draught-proofing and glazing services to help reduce heat loss.
- Plan ahead for future rental requirements: Landlords should review properties that currently sit close to the minimum EPC threshold, as additional improvements may be needed if the proposed EPC C requirement is introduced.
- Budget for future improvements: Carrying out upgrades gradually can help spread costs and avoid the need for significant works within a short timeframe. A cost cap of £10,000 is now part of the updated MEES framework, limiting the maximum amount landlords are required to spend on improvements to reach the required EPC standard.
Properties that currently achieve a rating close to the minimum standard may require further improvements under the updated EPC framework, making early preparation sensible.
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How Can Woodcock Sash Windows Help With EPC Changes?
Windows and doors are key areas of heat loss in many homes, particularly in older and period properties where original elements were not designed with modern energy performance standards in mind. This can affect a property’s overall EPC rating and energy efficiency.
Woodcock Sash Windows supports improvements in thermal efficiency through the repair, restoration, and installation of high-performance timber windows and doors and glazing options, including:
- Bespoke box sash windows, casement windows, and doors (including front, French, and bi-fold doors in Surrey), available in durable Accoya timber for long-term performance and low maintenance.
- Expert door and window repairs in Surrey.
- Professional draught-proofing services.
- Energy-efficient glazing options, including K Glass, designed to improve thermal insulation and overall performance, perfect for use in double or triple glazing.
These upgrades can help reduce heat loss, lower energy bills, improve overall building fabric performance and energy efficiency, and support stronger EPC ratings.
“Windows and doors have a major impact on EPC ratings, and improving them can significantly enhance energy efficiency. At Woodcock, we have the expertise to effectively reduce heat loss and strengthen overall building performance,” says Ben Woodcock, Woodcock Sash Windows.
Woodcock Sash Windows is FENSA-certified, fully insured, and operates to government-registered standards, assuring quality, compliance, and installation standards.
Contact us today at Woodcock Sash Windows in Surrey to discuss how we can help improve the energy efficiency of your windows and doors and support your property’s EPC performance.
