October 2026 is a useful point to review your rental property’s energy performance before winter. The government’s published policy is to raise minimum standards for eligible private rented homes in England and Wales by October 2030. The higher standard still needs implementing legislation; the current minimum is EPC E unless a valid exemption applies.
Whether you own a terraced house in Glascote, a semi in Wilnecote or Polesworth, or an older detached property in Harlaston, Clifton Campville or Edingale, this guide is designed to walk you through exactly what you need to do, when you need to do it, and how to spend your upgrade budget wisely.
What the October 2030 deadline actually means
The government’s January 2026 response sets a single October 2030 compliance date for both new and existing tenancies in scope. This is a future policy timetable, rather than a requirement for every tenancy to reach C in October 2026.
Properties rated D or E should be assessed for future improvements. An F- or G-rated property generally cannot currently be let unless a valid registered exemption applies, so those cases need immediate attention.
The published policy includes a £10,000 spending cap per property, with a lower cap of 10% of value for qualifying properties valued below £100,000. Exemption rules and evidence requirements must be checked against the implementing regulations.
The grandparenting rule – and why timing matters
Here’s something many landlords in Tamworth aren’t yet aware of: the grandparenting rule.
Under the published transition policy, an EPC showing energy-efficiency rating C or above before October 2029 will be recognised until that certificate expires or is replaced. It does not give every landlord a fixed exemption until 2039: the certificate’s own validity matters.
Act early, and you give yourself breathing room. Leave it until mid-2030, and you’re competing with every other landlord in the B77, B78, B79 and CV9 postcodes for the same limited pool of installers and assessors.
The planned EPC reforms for 2027
The government has moved the planned launch of reformed EPCs to the second half of 2027. An October 2026 review should use the current assessment system while keeping the future metrics and transition policy in view.
This matters for landlords who have recently commissioned assessments. If your current EPC was issued under the old methodology, it’s worth understanding how the new framework might affect your rating – and whether a fresh assessment under the new system could work in your favour or against you.
Speak to a qualified assessor this October before commissioning work. Ask how today’s recommendations fit the government’s transition policy and the planned future EPC metrics.
Which properties in the Tamworth area are most at risk
The local housing stock across Tamworth and North Warwickshire is varied – and that variation matters when it comes to EPC ratings.
Terraced homes in Glascote and Stoneydelph
Older terraced properties, particularly those built pre-1980 in areas like Glascote and Stoneydelph, often struggle with solid walls, single-glazed windows and outdated heating systems. These homes can be energy-hungry, and without intervention, many will sit at band D or below.
Terraced homes may benefit from loft insulation, suitable glazing and heating improvements. Ask an assessor to prioritise measures for the building and check the future cost-cap rules before choosing a new fossil-fuel boiler.
Semis in Wilnecote, Polesworth and Dordon
Semi-detached homes in Wilnecote, Polesworth and Dordon tend to have cavity walls, which makes insulation upgrades more straightforward and cost-effective than solid-wall properties. If your semi hasn’t had cavity wall insulation installed, that’s often the single biggest rating improvement available – and it’s one of the cheaper measures too.
Check whether your property already has insulation before commissioning works. Many semis built in the 1970s and 1980s had insulation installed as part of earlier government schemes, and duplicating work you’ve already paid for is an easy mistake to make.
Rural detached properties in Harlaston, Clifton Campville, Edingale and Elford
In rural villages such as Harlaston, Clifton Campville, Edingale and Elford, which are in Lichfield district in Staffordshire, improvement options depend on construction, heating and planning constraints. These are distinct from Atherstone and other North Warwickshire locations.
For these properties, the upgrade path is less straightforward. Heat pumps, solar panels and external wall insulation can all contribute to meaningful rating improvements, but costs are higher and the £10,000 cap may not stretch far enough. Landlords with rural properties should carry out assessments early to understand their options and, where necessary, begin the exemption registration process in good time.
A practical upgrade checklist for Tamworth landlords
Work through this checklist property by property. It’s designed to be scannable, so you can use it across a portfolio of any size.
Step 1 – check your current EPC
Find your existing EPC on the government’s register at find-energy-certificate.service.gov.uk. Note the current band, the expiry date, and – crucially – the recommended improvements listed in the report. These recommendations are your starting point.
Step 2 – identify your rating gap
EPC ratings are scored numerically (1–100). Band D runs from 55–68; band C from 69–80. If you’re at 65, you need just four points. If you’re at 55, you need 14. The size of the gap determines how much work is needed.
Step 3 – prioritise the highest-impact measures first
The measures that typically deliver the biggest rating improvements for Tamworth-area properties are:
- Loft insulation (where absent or below 270mm depth)
- Cavity wall insulation (for applicable properties in Wilnecote, Polesworth, Amington, Warton and Kingsbury)
- Assessing heating-system improvements with a qualified professional; fossil-fuel heating expenditure is excluded from the published future cost-cap transition allowance
- Installing a smart or programmable thermostat
- Replacing single glazing with double or triple glazing
- Adding solar photovoltaic (PV) panels (particularly effective for detached properties in Austrey, Grendon and Newton Regis)
Step 4 – get a new EPC assessment before starting works
If your current EPC is more than a couple of years old, commission a fresh assessment before spending anything. The assessor can model the impact of different measures on your rating, so you can spend your budget in the right order.
Step 5 – check what funding is available
Check current eligibility for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and local Warm Homes support before budgeting. ECO4 has been extended to December 2026, but eligibility and supplier availability vary. The Great British Insulation Scheme ended in March 2026 and should not be presented as open to new applicants this October.
Step 6 – keep records of everything
Retain invoices, assessor reports, installer certificates and correspondence about any exemptions. You’ll need this documentation if your compliance is ever queried – and with enforcement responsibilities sitting with local authorities, it’s not a formality to overlook.
How the £10,000 cost cap works in practice
The £10,000 cap is a per-property limit on what landlords are expected to spend to reach EPC C. It’s not a grant – it’s the ceiling beyond which an exemption can potentially be claimed if the property still can’t reach the required standard.
The published policy recognises eligible improvement spending from October 2025, subject to its detailed rules; spending on fossil-fuel heating is excluded from the specified transition allowance. Keep invoices and assessor recommendations, and confirm what counts before relying on a cost-cap exemption.
If you own multiple properties across Tamworth, Atherstone and the surrounding villages, it’s worth modelling the total likely spend across your portfolio now. Knowing your numbers early gives you the time to plan, phase works and manage cashflow – rather than scrambling in 2029.
Planning your upgrade timeline
With the grandparenting deadline of 1 October 2029 in mind, landlords with multiple properties in the B77, B78, B79 and CV9 postcodes should be starting their property-by-property assessments now – not in 2028.
Obtain quotes and check contractor availability before setting an upgrade timetable. Allow for access arrangements, unexpected building work and the eligibility or closing dates of any funding scheme.
Start with your lowest-rated properties and work up. That way, the properties most at risk of non-compliance are addressed first.
How Hunters Tamworth can help
Navigating EPC compliance across a portfolio of mixed property types – from Glascote terraces to Clifton Campville farmhouses – isn’t straightforward. Hunters Tamworth works with landlords of all portfolio sizes, from single-property landlords to those managing 20 or more homes across Tamworth and North Warwickshire.
Our team can help you understand which of your properties are at risk, connect you with trusted local assessors and contractors, and ensure your lettings remain legally compliant as the regulatory landscape evolves.
Book a free valuation to understand your rental property’s current market position this October. The team can also discuss how energy-efficiency planning fits your letting and maintenance priorities.
To speak with our lettings team directly, get in touch with the Hunters Tamworth branch – we’re here to get you there.
