Energy ratings
EPC rating E: what it means when you rent
EPC rating E means an energy efficiency score of 39 to 54. It meets the minimum of band E for rented homes in England.
England · Checked against GOV.UK on 23 October 2026 · Independent
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Check a property freeWhat does EPC rating E mean?
Band E is for homes with an energy efficiency score of 39 to 54, on a scale where A is the most efficient and G the least. E is below average: the average home in England scored 68 in 2024. The better the rating, the lower the fuel bills are likely to be, so an E-rated home is likely to cost noticeably more to heat than an average home of the same size. The score is modelled from the building, not from anyone’s actual bills.
Is E a good EPC rating?
No, it is below average. E is the lowest rating a private landlord can normally let a home with.
Looking at a home? Check a home’s rating free with our EPC checker: the band, the score, the rating it could reach and when the certificate was lodged.
Every EPC band, and how common it is
| Band | Score | All homes | Can be let? |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 92 or more | 4% (A and B) | Yes |
| B | 81 to 91 | 4% (A and B) | Yes |
| C | 69 to 80 | 52% | Yes |
| D | 55 to 68 | 35% | Yes |
| E | 39 to 54 | 6% | Yes |
| F | 21 to 38 | 2% | Only with an exemption |
| G | 1 to 20 | under 1% | Only with an exemption |
Share of all homes in England in 2024; bands A and B are grouped in the survey. Among privately rented homes: A or B 3%, C 48%, D 37%, E 9%, F or G 3%.
Can a landlord rent out a home with EPC rating E?
Yes. The minimum for most private lets in England is band E, so a band E home meets it. The rule covers assured (including assured shorthold), regulated and domestic agricultural tenancies where the home must have an EPC.
A landlord doesn’t currently have to spend more than £3,500 including VAT to reach band E. If they can’t reach it within that, or another exemption applies, they can register an exemption on the PRS Exemptions Register. Most exemptions last five years, and anyone can search the register.
Will EPC rating E be allowed for rented homes after 2030?
Not without improvements, if the plan goes ahead. In January 2026 the Government announced that private rented homes must meet a new standard, equivalent to band C, by 1 October 2030, with landlords spending up to £10,000 per property. It is not yet law: the regulations still have to be made, and the Government aims for them to come into force in 2027. Until then, band E meets the legal minimum.
What to ask about a band E home
The certificate shows the home’s typical energy costs and the improvements that would raise its rating. Before you sign, ask the landlord or agent:
- What is the main heating, and how old is it?
- Are the loft and walls insulated?
- Which improvements recommended on the certificate have been done, and are any planned?
- Has anything changed since the certificate was lodged, such as new windows or a new boiler?
Does the landlord have to show me the EPC?
Yes. The landlord or agent must make the certificate available free, no later than when you first get written details about the home or view it. The person who becomes the tenant must be given a copy free. An EPC lasts 10 years, so check the date on it.
Find a home’s certificate with our EPC checker, or on GOV.UK’s find an energy certificate service. If the landlord can’t show one, Trading Standards at the council can fine them £200.
Other bands: EPC rating A, EPC rating B, EPC rating C, EPC rating D, EPC rating F, EPC rating G.
Where this comes from
Score ranges from the Office for National Statistics. Shares of homes from the English Housing Survey 2024 to 2025, Annex Tables 2.2 and 2.3 (2024), Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Rules from GOV.UK’s Energy Performance Certificates, guide to EPCs for the marketing, sale and let of dwellings and minimum energy efficiency standard landlord guidance. The 2030 plan from the government response on improving the energy performance of privately rented homes. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. This guide covers common private tenancies in England and is general information, not legal advice. Different rules apply in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and to lodgers, social housing and some specialist accommodation.
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