The proposal
The Government has consulted on tightening Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) so that from 2028 new rental tenancies require EPC C; from 2030 all rentals do. The exact dates and exemptions are still moving but the direction is clear: D and below stops being lettable without works.
What that means in pounds
Average cost to take a typical D-rated property to C, based on EPC-recommended measures:
So a D-rated terraced house typically needs £3,000–£6,000 to clear C. An old solid-wall flat with electric heating needs more — internal wall insulation alone is £8,000+.
Which outcodes have the worst average EPC?
We rank outcodes by EPC distribution as part of our investor scoring. Outcodes with old housing stock + high private-rental share are exposed: NW3 Belsize Park, large parts of inner Bristol (BS2, BS5), Edinburgh's New Town conservation area, all of central Bath. If you're buy-to-let in those, factor £5–8k of capex into yield maths now, not later.
Outcodes built largely post-1995 (most outer London / most "new estate" outcodes) are mostly C/B already and aren't affected.
What our reports show
Every property report includes the EPC certificate (current + potential rating), the full list of EPC-recommended improvements with estimated costs, and the postcode-level rating distribution so you can see whether the property is the worst-in-postcode (worst case) or already best-in-postcode (best case).
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