All About Energy — Monthly News Update
October 2026 | EPCs, MEES and energy efficiency for Nottingham landlords, letting agents and homeowners
Welcome to this month's roundup — the EPC, MEES and energy efficiency news that could affect your property, put together by your local Nottingham assessors.
This month's headlines
Survey: over half of landlords expect trouble meeting the new EPC standard
A Barclays survey published on 2 October found that 38% of landlords expect difficulty complying with the proposed Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards, and they put the typical cost of getting compliant at around £9,000 per property — notably higher than the government's own estimate (more on that below). On the positive side, 51% of landlord respondents said they'd already made improvements in the past three years specifically to raise their EPC rating, and 56% of UK adults overall now see energy efficiency upgrades as "essential" given high utility costs. Barclays is pushing government for clearer guidance, more installer capacity, and better access to affordable finance — all things that would make the 2030 deadline far less daunting.
NRLA and Energy Saving Trust call for a clearer roadmap
Following a parliamentary roundtable, the NRLA and Energy Saving Trust published a joint call (1 October) for ministers to set out a clear roadmap for private rented sector energy efficiency reform — covering how the EPC changes, exemptions, enforcement and financial support will all fit together. Their concern is that uncertainty is making landlords hold off on improvements, which risks a last-minute scramble for contractors and materials as 2030 approaches. NRLA chief executive Ben Beadle put it simply: "2030 may sound some way off," but landlords need to start preparing now rather than waiting for every detail to be confirmed.
Correction: the Warm Homes Loan Scheme hasn't launched yet
Last month we flagged the new Warm Homes Loan Scheme (low-interest loans for heat pumps, solar and batteries) as "launching in September" — worth an update, as it's slipped. As of early October, no lenders have been confirmed and the scheme isn't yet open for applications. The first window for lenders to join closed back in July; a second window is expected later this year, with those lenders coming on board in early 2027. If any clients ask about it, the honest answer right now is "not yet" — we'll let you know as soon as it's actually live.
On the radar: the EPC C deadline, in more detail
Government's formal response on this has settled a bit more since we last covered it, so here's the fuller picture: by 1 October 2030, rented homes will need to hit a dual-metric standard — a primary "fabric performance" rating of C, plus a C on either smart readiness or heating system (landlord's choice of the two). The spending cap stays at £10,000 per property, though government's own impact assessment estimates the average spend will land closer to £5,400 — a useful contrast against the £9,000 landlords themselves are expecting, per the Barclays survey above. Money spent on Boiler Upgrade Scheme-funded work doesn't count towards the cap. Homes that reach EPC C under the current system before 1 October 2029 get to count as compliant until that certificate expires or is replaced — so there's still a real advantage to acting early. Enforcement will sit with local authorities from 2030, with fines of up to £30,000 per property for non-compliance, once the underlying legislation clears Parliament (expected 2027).
The new-look EPC itself — separate ratings for energy cost, fabric, heating and smart readiness, replacing the single A–G certificate — is still on track for the second half of 2027, having slipped from the original October 2026 target. Nothing changes for the certificate you'd get today.
And as a standing reminder: research earlier this year put Nottingham East among the worst-affected areas in England for this, with 64% of rental properties currently below EPC C — second only to Manchester Gorton nationally. It's a good reason for local landlords to get ahead of the curve rather than wait.
A quick note from us
If any of the above raises questions about a specific property — whether it's heading toward EPC C, what an assessment would cost, or just wanting a certificate renewed before it expires — get in touch and we'll be happy to help. We're based in Nottingham and cover the surrounding areas.
All About Energy | Nottingham domestic EPC assessments