The government has delayed the rollout of new energy efficiency rules for rented homes until autumn 2027, as ministers rethink how sweeping reforms to Energy Performance Certificates will work.
Officials said the shift follows industry feedback on the planned overhaul of the Energy Performance of Buildings regime which underpins EPCs across England and Wales.
The delay will give the government more time to redesign how building energy performance is measured and presented to consumers landlords and lenders.
Ministers argue the current EPC system no longer reflects the technologies households are installing as the UK moves away from fossil fuel heating.
The reforms – which will eventually be mandatory by 2030 – will introduce a broader set of indicators rather than relying mainly on the existing headline efficiency score.
Future EPCs will include measures covering the thermal performance of a building’s fabric, the efficiency and emissions of its heating system, the property’s readiness for smart energy technologies and the expected cost of energy use.
Officials say the aim is to give households clearer information on how their home performs and what improvements could reduce both bills and emissions.
The changes are also intended to support government policies on heat pumps insulation and wider home energy upgrades.
Alongside the new metrics ministers confirmed that properties will need to have an EPC in place before being marketed for sale or rent.
The move is designed to strengthen compliance with energy efficiency rules and ensure buyers and tenants have access to reliable information earlier in the property process.
The reforms form part of a broader overhaul of the Energy Performance of Buildings regime which has remained largely unchanged for years.
Buildings account for roughly one fifth of UK greenhouse gas emissions making home energy efficiency a key part of the country’s net zero strategy.
Ministers say improving the quality of EPC data will help guide investment in home upgrades while supporting the shift to cleaner heating.
Further changes to the regime including updates to EPC data standards and compliance rules will be set out in a full government response expected later.
The new system is expected to be introduced later this decade as part of wider efforts to modernise the UK’s building energy framework.
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