The EPC C rating Merseyside landlords are waiting on has been delayed and revised more than once. But the direction of travel has not changed. Those who wait for total certainty before acting are leaving themselves with less time and fewer good options when the deadline does land.
What the EPC C Proposals Actually Say
Under the current proposals, new tenancies would need to meet EPC C by 2028, with all existing tenancies following by 2030. For a city like Liverpool, where a large share of the private rental stock is pre-1919 terraced housing. This is a serious challenge. Many of these properties currently sit at D or E. And getting from D to C is not always a case of adding loft insulation and calling it done.
The Mistake: Chasing the Score, Not the Building
The mistake we see most often is landlords chasing the EPC score itself rather than the underlying building performance. EPC software rewards certain measures more than others on paper. Loft insulation and cavity wall fill score well, for example, even when they are not the most cost-effective or appropriate fix for that specific property. A solid-wall Victorian terrace in Wavertree or Toxteth needs a different approach to a 1930s semi in Crosby. Treating them the same wastes money and can create damp issues if ventilation isn’t addressed alongside insulation.
Why This Year Beats the Deadline Year
The practical approach for Merseyside landlords right now: get an accurate whole-property assessment done this year. Not the year the deadline arrives. That gives you time to plan the work in phases, spread the cost, and access whatever grant funding is available at the time. It beats scrambling to find contractors alongside every other landlord in the region trying to hit the same deadline.
Plan Your Merseyside EPC Pathway Now
Net Zero Gurus works with landlords across Merseyside to plan EPC improvement pathways properly, based on PAS 2038 principles rather than guesswork. Get in touch before the deadline becomes an emergency. Call 0151 374 0044 or email hello@netzerogurus.co.uk.
