The government response summarises the responses received to the consultation on ‘Improving the energy performance of privately rented homes: 2025 update’.

The consultation set out proposals to raise the minimum energy efficiency standard required of privately rented homes in England and Wales to the equivalent of Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) C by 2030. Having considered the responses, this response sets out the following decisions:

• introducing a single compliance date of 1 October 2030 for the new standard
• a dual-metric standard as proposed in the consultation, with a fabric performance standard first followed by landlord discretion to meet either a heating system standard or a smart readiness standard
• raising the cost-cap to £10,000 with a ten-year validity period for exemptions
• allow for properties with a current EPC C to be recognised as compliant under the future standard until the EPC expires. This includes private rented homes graded C or above against the Energy Efficiency Rating (EER) on EPCs before 1 October 2029
• increasing the number of exemptions available and amending current exemptions
• short-term lets will not be included within the scope of PRS MEES regulations, with more engagement required before any further consideration

The policy aims to deliver significant energy bill and carbon emissions savings in the domestic private rented sector to deliver against government’s statutory 2030 fuel poverty target and carbon budgets. Alongside the Warm Homes Plan, increasing standards in the sector will support the delivery of up to five million home upgrades by 2030. We have published an impact assessment alongside this government response to provide analysis on the estimated impact of the policy on the sector.

Government will proceed with introducing new powers by Act of Parliament to implement the decisions set out in the government response, and will seek to lay a statutory instrument with the aim of it coming into force in 2027 to enable these updates to the PRS regulations.

We received 1,920 responses to the consultation from a wide range of stakeholders, including:

• private landlords
• property management organisations
• homeowners
• private tenants
• national representative and trade bodies
• professional bodies and institutions
• local authorities