Holiday Let EPC Requirements: What Hosts Need to Know

Energy Performance Certificates for holiday lets sit in a confusing middle ground — they're required in some situations but not others, and the rules are changing. Here's what you actually need to know.

This is general guidance, not legal advice. Check with your local authority for property-specific requirements.

Do Holiday Lets Need an EPC?

In England and Wales: Yes, if your property is let for 4 or more months in any 12-month period. This is HMRC's definition of a "furnished holiday let" and it triggers the EPC requirement under the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) Regulations 2015.

If you let for fewer than 4 months per year, you're currently exempt — but this is changing (see below).

In Scotland: EPCs are required when a property is sold or rented. The Scottish Government's position is that short-term lets constitute "renting" and an EPC is required. Your council may check this as part of the licensing process.

Current Minimum: Band E

The current Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) for rented properties in England and Wales is Band E. If your property is rated F or G, you cannot legally let it unless you've registered a valid exemption.

Exemptions exist for properties where:

• All cost-effective improvements have been made and it still doesn't reach E
• Improvements require consent from a third party (e.g., freeholder) who has refused
• The property is listed and alterations would unacceptably alter its character

Exemptions must be registered on the PRS Exemptions Register and are valid for 5 years.

What's Changing

All STLs will need an EPC (regardless of letting duration)

The government has confirmed it will expand the EPC requirement to cover all short-term rental properties regardless of who pays energy bills or how many months per year the property is let. This removes the current 4-month exemption.

The timing of this change hasn't been confirmed, but it's part of the broader EPC regime reforms being implemented alongside the England registration scheme.

Band C by October 2030

The government has proposed increasing the minimum rating to Band C for all rental properties from 1 October 2030. This applies to all tenancies, including short-term lets.

If your property is currently rated D or E, you'll need to improve it before this deadline.

New EPC assessment methodology (October 2029)

From 1 October 2029, a new EPC system becomes compulsory. The key change: assessments will be based on how well a property retains heat rather than how much energy it uses. This is expected to make achieving Band C harder for some property types (particularly older or rural buildings common in the holiday let market).

Properties that achieve Band C under the current system before 1 October 2029 will remain compliant until their EPC expires (10 years from issue). So there's an advantage to getting a Band C rating sooner rather than later.

What Does a Band C Upgrade Cost?

Costs vary enormously depending on your property's current rating and construction:

Current Rating	Typical Upgrade Cost to Band C	Common Improvements
D	£3,000–£8,000	Loft insulation, LED lighting, smart heating controls, double glazing upgrades
E	£5,000–£15,000	All of the above plus cavity/solid wall insulation, boiler upgrade or heat pump
F/G	£10,000–£25,000+	Major structural improvements, potentially full heating system replacement

Costs are rough estimates. Get a detailed assessment from a qualified assessor.

Grants may be available through the Great British Insulation Scheme or local authority programmes. Check eligibility before spending.

How to Get an EPC

1. Find an accredited assessor — search the GOV.UK register of energy assessors
2. Book the assessment — typically takes 45–90 minutes at the property. Cost: £60–£120.
3. Receive your certificate — issued within a few days. Valid for 10 years.
4. Review recommendations — the EPC includes a list of improvements ranked by cost-effectiveness. This is your upgrade roadmap.

Holiday Let EPC Strategy

Given the 2030 deadline, here's a practical approach:

If you're already Band C or above: No action needed. Your current EPC covers you.

If you're Band D: Start planning improvements. The 2030 deadline gives you time, but:

• Get your improvements done and a new EPC issued before October 2029 — the current assessment method may be more favourable than the new one
• Prioritise improvements with the best cost-to-rating-improvement ratio (the EPC recommendations list helps here)

If you're Band E: Act now. You're at the current minimum, and you'll need significant improvement to reach C. Start with a detailed assessment of what's needed and budget accordingly.

If you're Band F or G: You're already non-compliant (unless you have a registered exemption). Address this immediately — you risk enforcement action.

For a complete overview of all compliance obligations, see our compliance checklist or generate a tailored checklist with our Compliance Checklist Generator.

Sources

• Legislation.gov.uk — Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) Regulations 2015
• GOV.UK — Reforms to the Energy Performance of Buildings regime
• GOV.UK — MEES landlord guidance
• GOV.UK — Find an energy assessor
• GOV.UK — Great British Insulation Scheme