Energy efficiency is climbing the agenda for landlords, and a significant change is on the horizon: the minimum energy rating for rented homes is set to rise towards EPC C by 2030. For Cambridge landlords in particular, that matters, because so much of the city’s rental stock is older, solid-walled and harder to heat. Getting ahead of the change — rather than scrambling at the deadline — protects your investment and keeps your property lettable. Here is what it means and how to prepare.
An Energy Performance Certificate rates a property’s energy efficiency from A (most efficient) to G (least), and it is a legal requirement to have a valid one before you let. The current minimum for a rented home is E, but the standard is set to rise towards C by 2030. In practice that means a large number of rentals will need improvement work to remain lettable, and the ones that need the most work are exactly the kind Cambridge has in abundance.
A good share of Cambridge’s rental housing is older and harder to heat: the Victorian and Edwardian terraces around Romsey, Petersfield and Mill Road, converted period homes, and solid-walled, single-glazed stock that loses heat far faster than a modern build. These are often the properties that sit lowest on the EPC scale, and they can be the most challenging — and costly — to improve. If your portfolio leans towards older housing, it is worth assessing where each property stands now, well before the deadline, so you can plan rather than react.
The good news is that many of the most effective improvements are also among the cheapest. Typically the best returns come from:
The Energy Saving Trust has clear, independent guidance on what works, and our guide to adding value to your Cambridge home before selling looks at how the same measures can lift both comfort and value.
The worst approach is to leave it to the last minute. Spreading improvements over the next few years — tackling the easy wins first and budgeting for bigger measures over time — is far easier on your cash flow and avoids a scramble as the deadline approaches. It also keeps your property comfortable and attractive to tenants in the meantime, which matters in a competitive market. Knowing where each property stands today is the first step; from there you can build a sensible plan for each one.
The move towards EPC C by 2030 is a real change, and Cambridge’s older stock makes it one local landlords should take seriously. Assess where your properties stand, prioritise the cost-effective improvements, and plan the work over time rather than all at once. Done sensibly, it protects your investment and keeps your property lettable. If you would like help understanding where your Cambridge rental stands and what to prioritise, call our lettings team on 01223 323 130 or get in touch.
The current minimum is E, but the standard for rented homes is set to rise towards C by 2030. Many properties — particularly older ones — will need improvement work to meet the higher bar and remain lettable.
Much of Cambridge’s rental stock is older, period and solid-walled — the Victorian terraces of Romsey and Petersfield, converted homes and single-glazed properties — which lose heat faster and tend to score lower on the EPC scale, so they are more likely to need upgrading.
Insulation, draught-proofing and an efficient, well-controlled heating system usually give the best returns, with LED lighting and similar low-cost measures adding further points. The Energy Saving Trust has independent guidance on what works best for your type of home.
