Energy ratings
EPC rating F: what it means when you rent
EPC rating F means an energy efficiency score of 21 to 38. A private landlord in England can’t normally let a band F home unless an exemption is registered.
England · Checked against GOV.UK on 23 October 2026 · Independent
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Check a property freeWhat does EPC rating F mean?
Band F is for homes with an energy efficiency score of 21 to 38, on a scale where A is the most efficient and G the least. F is poor. The better the rating, the lower the fuel bills are likely to be, so an F-rated home is likely to be expensive to heat. The score is modelled from the building, not from anyone’s actual bills.
Is F a good EPC rating?
No, it is a poor rating. A private landlord can’t normally let an F-rated home unless a valid exemption is registered.
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 F?
Not normally. Since 1 April 2020 a private landlord can’t let a band F or G home, even to an existing tenant, unless a valid exemption is registered on the PRS Exemptions Register. Councils can fine a landlord up to £2,000 if it has been let for under three months and up to £4,000 for three months or more, with a cap of £5,000 per property.
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 F be allowed for rented homes after 2030?
No. Band F is already below today’s minimum of E. 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.
Renting a band F home: what you can do
- Ask the landlord or agent, in writing, whether an exemption is registered for the home.
- Search the PRS Exemptions Register yourself. It also lists penalties issued to landlords.
- If there is no exemption, tell the council. Councils enforce the standard and can ask the landlord for information with a compliance notice, then fine them.
- Before you sign, you can ask for improvements to be made first, or walk away. A band F home is likely to be expensive to heat.
What to ask about a band F 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 E, 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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