Landlords: how to make your property more energy efficient

The government's Warm Homes Plan and a range of related policies place new requirements on private landlords to make their rental properties energy efficient and deal with issues of damp or mould promptly. 

We've outlined the key requirements of the new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) Regulations, how to improve the energy efficiency of your rental property, and what grants and loans are available to help. 

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The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for the private rental sector

The government's Domestic Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) Regulations set a minimum energy efficiency level for domestic private rented properties in England and Wales. They apply to all privately rented homes that are:

• Let on an assured tenancy, a regulated tenancy or a domestic agriculture tenancy. 
• Legally required to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). This usually applies if a rented property has been marketed for sale or let, or modified, in the past 10 years.

Under the current MEES Regulations, if both of these points apply, landlords whose properties in England and Wales have an EPC rating of F or G must take appropriate steps to raise the rating to at least E.

What are the new MEES requirements and when do they apply?

As part of the government's Warm Homes Plan, announced in January 2026, private rental properties will be required to have a minimum EPC rating of C. All affected properties that don't have valid exemptions must take appropriate steps to meet this new standard from 1 October 2030. 

The government has also proposed a new methodology for establishing an EPC rating. It's still under consultation and is due to be launched later in 2026. However, as it stands, it will break the EPC assessment down into four modules:

1. Fabric performance metric: an assessment of the fabric of the building, including the structure of the roof, quality of the windows and insulation.
2. Heating system metric: an assessment of the technologies that generate heat for heating (and cooling), hot water, and cooking.
3. Smart readiness metric: a building's ability to generate its own energy – for example, through installation of solar panels – and integrate smart technology to maximise energy efficiency.
4. Energy cost metric: an assessment of the predicted costs of energy use in a building, with an independent estimate of likely bills for residents. 

To achieve an overall EPC rating of C under the new methodology, landlords are likely to need to meet minimum requirements under the fabric performance and energy cost metrics, and also commit to either the installation of solar panels (to meet the smart readiness metric) or a heat pump (to meet the heating system metric).

The government has indicated that even the most efficient heating system based on fossil fuels would be unlikely to achieve a C on the new metric. 

Exemptions to MEES

There will be exemptions to the requirement to meet minimum standards in certain circumstances, such as:

• If it's not possible to install certain technologies, for example, it may not be possible to install solar panels on a rental flat
• Where a tenant has not given their consent for a particular measure
• If it's unaffordable to install the measures required
• Mortgage lender consent refusal
• Structural issues that prevent the installation of energy-efficiency measures. 

If a property meets the criteria for any exemptions, landlords will need to register it on the PRS Exemptions Register.

What about energy efficiency requirements in Scotland?

The Scottish Government’s Heat in Buildings Bill consultation proposes new minimum energy efficiency standards for private landlords in Scotland to meet, with a deadline of 2028. Under these standards, all privately rented homes will need to install a number of energy efficiency improvements. 

The consultation also includes a proposal that, by 2045, all building owners will have to replace polluting heating systems, such as gas and oil, with clean alternatives such as heat pumps or modern electric storage heaters. 

Under a separate consultation, the Scottish government has proposed to reduce the validity period of EPCs from 10 to five years for all domestic properties. This is intended to give prospective owners and tenants more up-to-date information about the building.

Find out more about the Scottish government's Heat in Buildings Bill consultation.

How to improve the energy rating for your rental property

If you're concerned that your rented property isn't as energy efficient as it could be, new regulatory requirements mean that now is a good time to make improvements. 

Arrange an energy assessment

The first step is to get an up-to-date energy assessment and EPC rating. Your EPC report will include information on what energy efficiency improvements you could make. 

To book a new EPC assessment, make an appointment for a qualified Domestic Energy Assessor to visit your home and carry out an assessment. They'll send you your report following the visit.  

You can find an assessor through the EPC Register in England, Wales or Northern Ireland or the Scottish EPC Register in Scotland.

Landlords and letting agents need to give tenants at least 24 hours’ written notice before any property visits. 

Read our guide on how to get an Energy Performance Certificate you can trust.

Prioritise and implement the energy efficiency improvements

The biggest energy savers will depend on the type of property you own, and the findings from your energy assessment. The most significant (and most likely to help you get a C rating on your EPC under the government's proposed new measures for England and Wales) include:

• Installing insulation, such as solid wall, cavity wall or loft insulation.
• Replacing existing windows with double glazed windows.
• Updating fossil-fuel heating systems to cleaner alternatives, such as heat pumps.
• Installing solar panels or other microgeneration systems. 

Under the government's new EPC methodology, even the most energy-efficient boiler will not meet its criteria to receive a C rating for the heating system metric. 

This doesn't necessarily mean it's not worth upgrading you boiler to a more efficient model. In the long term, it will save you (or your tenant) money through lower heating bills. And the government's proposed methodology will only require you to get a C rating for either its heating system or its smart readiness metric, so if you have solar panels or another method of energy microgeneration, then running a traditional gas boiler system may be fine. 

Bear in mind that the Scottish government is proposing to require all building owners to replace fossil-fuel-based heating systems by 2045.

Smaller energy efficiency improvements you can make to your property include:

• Draught-proofing gaps and cracks
• Upgrading to LED light bulbs
• Installing a smart meter.

From choosing between a combi, regular or system boiler to getting the right size, read our advice on how to buy the best boiler.

Book a reliable trader

However big or small the energy improvement measures you're making, you want to be confident that the work is done to a high standard by a reputable trader.

Recommendations from friends and family or from local community forums or social media groups can be helpful. But we'd always recommend getting at least three quotes, so if you're short on personal recommendations, use Which? Trusted Traders to build your shortlist. 

Which? Trusted Traders is an endorsement scheme that recognises reputable local traders – from plumbers and electricians to builders and handymen. The scheme raises standards for consumers by setting a benchmark that all traders need to meet before they can be endorsed. 

Just like our Best Buy logo, the Which? Trusted Trader logo is a sign of reputation and trust.  

Costs and funding for energy efficiency improvements

The government expects landlords to take 'appropriate steps' to improve the energy efficiency of their rental properties, but doesn't expect an unlimited outlay on these measures. Here are the details of how much you'll be expected to pay towards improvements, and the grants and loans available to help. 

• Spending cap: In England and Wales, you won't be required to spend more than £10,000 on the recommended improvements to reach the minimum energy efficiency standard (EPC rating of C). If the recommended improvements cost more than £10,000, you can apply for a high-cost exemption via the PRS Exemptions Register.
• Low/zero-interest loans: Under the government's Warm Homes Plan, both landlords and homeowners can access government-backed low or zero-interest loans specifically for installing solar panels, heat pumps and batteries.
• Boiler Upgrade Scheme: The Boiler Upgrade Scheme for England and Wales gives grants to people who install a low-carbon heating system in place of existing gas or oil heating. For example, there's a £7,500 grant available for replacing old boilers with heat pumps. Equivalent grants are also available in Scotland. 

How Which?’s home energy planning tool can help

The Which? home energy planning service provides insights to help you make the right decisions about energy efficiency measures for your home.

The tool offers suggestions, costs and potential savings for a range of energy measures. Its analysis is based on your property type, size, age and location, and on assumptions about the number of people living there and their energy usage, using data from Energy Saving Trust.

It will help you to:

• Explore your options with confidence
• Build a personalised plan 
• Make choices that work financially
• Find trustworthy tradespeople
• Improve your home’s EPC rating
• Lower your energy bills
• Reduce your carbon footprint. 

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Tenant relations and legal protections

New renter protections

A key focus of the government's Warm Homes Plan is on strengthening protections for renters in England and Wales against cold, damp, and high energy bills. 

The new energy efficiency rules it outlines for rental properties complement the Renters’ Rights Act, a government policy being implemented in parallel. Among other measures, this Act extends Awaab’s Law to include privately rented homes (previously it only covered the social rented sector). Awaab's Law requires landlords to address all emergency hazards and all damp and mould hazards that present a significant risk of harm to tenants within strict timeframes. 

Maintenance awareness

The new energy efficiency requirements under the new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for the private rental sector are above and beyond the basic legal obligation of landlords to keep their rental properties in good repair. 

Under section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, both private and social landlords are responsible for repairs to:

• The property’s structure and exterior
• Basins, sinks, baths and other sanitary fittings, including pipes and drains
• Heating and hot water
• Gas appliances, pipes, flues and ventilation
• Electrical wiring
• Any damage they cause by attempting repairs.

If, as a landlord, you don't carry out necessary repairs to deal with 'wear and tear' to your rental property, tenants can contact the local council's environmental health department for help. 

Everything you need to know about the Renters' Rights Act.