The Warm Homes Plan explained: what private landlords in England and Wales need to know

In January 2026, the UK government confirmed major changes to the way energy efficiency is regulated in the housing sector as part of its Warm Homes Plan. These reforms aim to reduce energy bills, tackle fuel poverty and align the private rented sector with national climate and housing goals.

Described as the “biggest ever public investment to upgrade British homes and cut bills”, the Warm Homes Plan will deliver £15bn of public investment to upgrade up to five million homes and help up to one million families come out of fuel poverty by 2030.

The plan “includes an offer for everyone: with grants and loans to make it easier than ever for homeowners to install heat pumps, solar panels and batteries; direct support for home upgrades for those on low incomes and in fuel poverty; and new rules to ensure landlords invest in upgrades to cut bills for renters and social tenants.”

What the government has officially decided

1. Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) will rise to EPC C by 2030

The government has confirmed that by 1 October 2030, all privately rented homes in England and Wales that fall within MEES regulations must achieve at least Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Band C, compared with the current minimum of EPC E.

This follows the Improving the Energy Performance of Privately Rented Homes consultation outcome, which was published as part of the warm homes regulatory update.

Key points:

• Single compliance deadline: all tenancies must meet the higher standard by 1 October 2030
• Exemptions available: landlords may apply for exemptions if works to reach EPC C exceed a set cost cap
• Cost cap: the proposed cap on landlord expenditure to reach the standard is £10,000 per property over a 10-year period; evidence of spending up to this level may support an exemption if EPC C is not reached
• Transition arrangements: properties already rated EPC C under the current methodology before EPC reforms take effect may be recognised as compliant until the certificate expires.

2. What EPC C means under the new rules

Importantly, the new requirement will use updated EPC metrics, including:

• A fabric performance metric (which looks at insulation and heat retention)
• A choice of either a heating system metric or smart-readiness metric, giving landlords some flexibility in how compliance is achieved.

This means that meeting an old-style EPC C score alone may not be enough once the updated methodology applies.

3. Support schemes will be available, but targeted

The Warm Homes Plan includes funding streams designed to help households and landlords improve energy efficiency, such as the Warm Homes: Local Grant. These schemes generally:

• Fully fund improvements for households on low incomes or receiving certain benefits
• Provide grant support for insulation and low-carbon heating installations
• Require landlord consent for work in private rented properties.

However, grants aren’t universally available for all rental properties. Eligibility depends on tenant income, property condition and local authority administration.

What this means for landlords

Planning and asset management

Landlords should treat the 2030 EPC C requirement as a firm compliance target when planning portfolios, budgets and long-term investment.

Early action makes sense

Properties that are already close to EPC C may be easier to upgrade now rather than waiting until closer to the 2030 deadline. Early upgrades can also help maintain tenant appeal and protect property value.

Exemptions and cost caps matter

Because exemptions and cost caps are part of the policy framework, landlords should understand whether individual properties qualify for these protections – particularly for lower-value homes where energy improvement costs are proportionally high.

Tenant engagement is necessary

Since grants may require tenant consent for surveys and retrofit work, landlords intending to take advantage of funding should communicate with them early and clearly.