Hello, future renters and everyone else just trying to find a place with, you know, actual insulation! As if being a renter in the UK wasn’t challenging enough, there’s finally a bit of good news on the horizon. Starting soon, UK landlords will be required to upgrade their properties to meet new Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) standards, bumping those ancient “D” or worse-rated flats up to a glorious “C.” Yes, you heard that right! They’re finally going to have to spend some of our rent on things that might make our homes warm without doubling our heating bills.

If you’re like me and currently renting a flat where you can practically feel the breeze through the walls, here’s what you need to know. The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) is stepping up in 2025, requiring rentals to have at least a “C” EPC rating. This is fantastic news if you enjoy living in a home that doesn’t feel like a meat locker in winter. So, if you’re renting a place that feels suspiciously drafty, now is the perfect time to start asking questions. Is your property a solid “C” or higher? Because if it’s not, your landlord might need to take action to avoid penalties—and improve your quality of life, almost as a happy accident.

What to Watch Out For as a Renter:

• Check the EPC Rating: If your landlord hasn’t shared this with you, don’t be shy—ask for it. The EPC rating will tell you how energy-efficient your home really is. Spoiler: if it’s “D” or lower, expect to pay out the nose for heating.
• Demand Updates for Efficiency: If your property doesn’t meet the MEES requirements, it’s technically supposed to be upgraded. Look out for landlords who try to get around this by putting off improvements or passing off minimal fixes as “major renovations.”
• Be Aware of Your Rights: With the new regulations, you have more leverage to demand improvements. And yes, asking your landlord to make the place actually livable isn’t asking too much.

And, Landlords, Here’s the Deal

If you’re reading this as a landlord, congrats—you might actually have to spend money on your investment! You might have managed to avoid all those renovations for years, but these changes mean you’ll need to address things like insulation, boiler upgrades, and windows that actually keep heat in. Sure, it might take a chunk out of your profits, but let’s be real: we’re all tired of paying ridiculous rent for poorly maintained, inefficient properties.

What This Means for the UK Housing Market (Hint: Change is Coming)

So, here’s the bigger picture. This EPC overhaul will start to shake things up in the UK rental market. Properties that don’t meet these new standards? Well, their landlords will either have to sell, invest heavily in improvements, or pull them off the rental market entirely. This could lead to fewer ancient slumlord rentals on the market and more competitive, energy-efficient properties for the rest of us. For renters, it means that, finally, the market might just offer homes that don’t double as refrigerators in winter. On the other hand, this could significantly reduce the amount of rental stock in the UK, forcing further upward pressure on rental values.

In many neighbouring European countries such as Germany, Switzerland, and Sweden, long-term renting is a social norm. This mindset encourages renters to stay in properties for extended periods, fostering stability and continuity. As a result, landlords are incentivised to maintain higher standards in rental units to attract and retain long-term tenants, knowing that renters view these properties as more permanent homes. Maybe the new regulatory changes in the UK are the first step in aligning the UK rental market with some of it;s European competitor models.

Either way, the upcoming EPC changes should finally result in a home that doesn’t feel like you’re living in a cardboard box.