Landlords in the UK may soon face increased pressure to install heat pumps if they hope to comply with the government’s EPC C targets. Rumours have emerged suggesting that the government is considering a system that could prevent properties with traditional gas boilers from achieving a C rating under a reformed Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) framework.
The proposed changes involve a complete overhaul of the way EPCs are calculated. Instead of simply assessing overall energy efficiency, the new metrics will take into account a property’s fabric performance, smart readiness, energy costs, and the type of heating system installed. This is intended to provide a more detailed and accurate picture of how a home performs in energy terms.
Reports in The Telegraph claim ministers may set a cap on the maximum EPC rating achievable for properties heated by fossil fuels. In practice, this could mean that homes with gas boilers would be unable to reach an EPC C rating unless they install alternative heating technologies, such as electric heat pumps.
The changes coincide with the government’s wider commitment that all privately rented properties must achieve at least an EPC C rating by 2030. Meeting this target is part of a broader strategy to reduce carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency in housing, and lower energy bills for tenants.
The new EPC framework requires landlords to first meet the fabric performance metric. This evaluates elements like insulation, double glazing, wall construction, and other aspects of a property’s structure that affect energy retention. Landlords must then select two additional metrics to achieve an overall C rating, giving them some flexibility in how compliance is achieved.
One of the key optional metrics is smart readiness, which measures a property’s ability to generate and manage its own electricity. Achieving a C rating in this area typically requires features like solar panels, smart meters, and advanced energy controls. These technologies help homes reduce their reliance on grid energy and provide long-term savings on electricity costs.
The heating system metric, however, may prove the most contentious. Under the proposed rules, homes heated by gas boilers might automatically be capped below a C rating, while electric heat pumps would meet the standard by default. This has caused concern among landlords and property industry bodies regarding the potential cost and complexity of installing heat pumps in certain properties.
Tim Thomas, senior policy and campaigns officer at Propertymark, highlighted the practical challenges of the new framework. He warned that many landlords, especially those managing older or rural properties, may find it neither straightforward nor financially viable to retrofit heat pumps or other technologies to meet the rating.
Thomas also noted that there is currently insufficient skilled workforce capacity to carry out such installations on a large scale. Combined with limited access to grants and unclear long-term government support, landlords may struggle to adapt, particularly while the full methodology of the reformed EPC remains uncertain.
Funding schemes available to landlords are often highly restrictive. Eligibility criteria can depend on tenant income, household circumstances, or whether the property is located in a deprived area. These limitations could make it difficult for many landlords to access support for heat pump or solar panel installation.
Despite these challenges, the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) emphasised that gas boilers can still be used to meet the fabric performance metric. This metric does not consider the type of heating system, meaning landlords can upgrade insulation and other structural elements to comply without immediately replacing their boiler.
The NRLA also pointed out that landlords have options beyond the heating system metric. By investing in smart readiness measures, such as solar panels or smart energy controls, landlords can achieve compliance without installing heat pumps. This flexibility is intended to balance energy efficiency goals with practical considerations for property owners.
Government projections indicate that the new EPC standards could lead to significant uptake of renewable technologies. Estimates suggest landlords may install nearly 938,000 solar panel systems and over 108,000 heat pumps by 2030, reflecting the scale of change expected within the private rental sector.
A spokesperson from the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero clarified that landlords will not be forced to install heat pumps. The government’s priority remains that every tenant has access to a safe, decent, and affordable home. Nearly half of privately rented properties already meet the proposed EPC standards, providing a strong foundation for the sector to improve further.
The new EPC framework has been broadly welcomed by tenant groups and landlord organisations alike. While some landlords may face practical or financial challenges, the system aims to encourage energy-efficient upgrades without imposing blanket requirements that could be unmanageable.
Overall, the reformed EPC metrics represent a significant step toward reducing carbon emissions and improving energy efficiency across the UK’s rental housing market. Landlords will need to plan carefully, consider funding options, and explore flexible compliance strategies to meet the 2030 target without unnecessary costs or disruption.
By offering multiple pathways to compliance—through fabric performance, smart readiness, and heating system metrics—the government is attempting to strike a balance between environmental ambition and practical implementation. This approach encourages landlords to adopt energy-efficient technologies while ensuring tenants benefit from lower energy costs and more sustainable homes.
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