Anyone know anything about EPC ratings and renting regulations?

[DFOD]

Young relative looking at buying a small flat to buy in London. Top floor in Victorian conversion - EPC rating is D - he has just found out that the EPC rating needs to be C for rental purposes under new or future regulations?

This is to be his home 100% - but he just wants the flexibility down the line of renting it out if he needs to move for work etc.

Does anyone have any information on this - and is it possible to do renovations to move it from D to C?

The EPC report / certificate should say what achievements are possible and what they may cost

New region 2025 say band c or above

Regulation ffs

The EPC should say what hypothetical rating the property could achieve with certain changes.

If he Google's EPC and goes on the gov link, it will bring up the latest EPC report. That will tell you what the inspector thought the property could achieve, and how many points doing various things would add (low energy lighting, TRVs)

Yes, currently it is EPC E to rent, but in 2025 it will have to be EPC C to rent.
The EPC certificate itself will tell you what the properties’ potential is and what can be done (if anything) to improve the EPC rating from D.

Is the property a listed property? Some listed properties are or can be exempted from the EPC rent regulations.

Oh thanks so much - no not listed - just a large old Victorian house converted into flats in London.

I have no evidence this is true but I have heard that the 2025 EPC change is unlikely to happen.
Too many homes fall below it.

Proposed bill says
(a) all new tenancies must have an energy efficiency performance of at least EPC Band C from 31 December 2025; and

(b) all existing tenancies must be at least EPC Band C from 31 December 20 2028 where practical, cost-effective and affordable as defined under section 1(4).

This hasn't been passed and I suspect the can will get kicked down the road.

I just had a look at my DM's EPC certificate. It's an E, whereas the (identical) houses either side are both a D, even though her house has much more loft insulation. The assessors seem to have assessed the walls under three different
descriptions! One is described as cavity wall, but I don't think that's right. Surely there's something wrong with the system?

Thanks all - very helpful insights

My flat is rated D and my neighbour is C. We have identical purpose-builts except it seems theirs has storage heaters and mine uses normal electric heaters. I think EPC is based on energy cost, which will favour gas over electricity (gas is cheaper), and storage heaters over normal ones (storage heater uses cheap night rate although it's not as efficient as normal heaters). I heard the EPC calculation will be revamped later this decade. Hopefully it will be towards energy consumption (in actual kW consumed rather than £ cost) which will be more consistent with net zero target.