Compliance starts with clarity: navigating the EPC road ahead

By 2030, every rented commercial property in England and Wales will need to meet a minimum EPC rating of B. The interim target—EPC C by 2027—is already on the horizon. But with over 80% of UK commercial buildings currently falling below the B threshold, the scale of the challenge is now impossible to ignore.

This isn’t a distant policy shift—it’s a live risk. Penalties, valuation impacts, and regulatory enforcement are all beginning to materialise. For many asset owners and landlords, 2025 is the year when energy performance stops being a secondary concern and becomes a direct commercial issue.

There’s no more runway. And the pressure is coming from both sides—tightening regulations on one end, and growing market expectations on the other.

It’s not just about compliance—it’s about viability

Buildings that don’t meet the standard will become unlettable. That’s not a distant risk—it’s a structural shift in how real estate value is assessed. Poor-performing assets will face penalties, reduced tenancy options, and lower investor confidence.

The most pressing issue? Time. These upgrades don’t happen overnight. And for portfolios with multiple older buildings, waiting until guidance becomes clearer or funding becomes easier could mean falling behind the curve.

Start where you are, not where you hope to be

Many organisations are holding off because complete upgrades feel overwhelming. But the first step isn’t action—it’s insight. Before commissioning works, it’s worth understanding what’s already working, where the biggest inefficiencies are, and which interventions offer the clearest return.

That means looking beyond the EPC label to how the building actually performs on a day-to-day basis, and how systems behave. Where energy is used—and where it’s wasted. With that kind of clarity, it’s easier to prioritise what needs attention first, avoid unnecessary costs, and build a path that’s both strategic and achievable. No guesswork. No unnecessary upgrades. Just measurable improvements, based on what your buildings need.

This isn’t about panic—it’s about preparation

The properties that will remain competitive are those that demonstrate their performance. That starts with visibility. If you know where your risks lie, you can manage them effectively. If you don’t, they’ll manage you.

The EPC deadline is real. But so is the opportunity to act early and act wisely.