Band B: you can let this today, and after 2030.
B clears the current MEES floor of band E and the band C standard that applies to private lets in England and Wales from 1 October 2030. Keep the certificate valid: you need an EPC in place whenever you market or re-let.
Band B is a SAP score of 81 to 91 GOV.UK SAP. This is new-build territory: current building regulations push most newly constructed homes into B, which is why a new estate's certificates look so uniform.
Is band B good?
Yes, by any practical measure. Just over half of English homes now reach band C or above EHS 2023-24, and B sits comfortably above that. You clear the current letting floor and the 2030 band C floor Gov response Jan 2026 without doing anything.
What would push a B to an A?
Usually generation: photovoltaic panels are the common route, sometimes paired with a heat pump if the home still has a gas boiler. Whether that spend is worth it is an energy bills question, not a compliance one, because no rule requires band A.
New build and the predicted EPC
If you bought off-plan, your first certificate may be a predicted assessment produced from plans rather than a survey of the finished house. The new-build EPC page explains predicted versus as-built ratings.
| Band | SAP score | Letting today (E floor) | Letting from 1 Oct 2030 (C floor) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 92+ | Allowed | Allowed |
| B | 81-91 | Allowed | Allowed |
| C | 69-80 | Allowed | Allowed |
| D | 55-68 | Allowed | Works or exemption required |
| E | 39-54 | Allowed | Works or exemption required |
| F | 21-38 | Exemption required | Works or exemption required |
| G | 1-20 | Exemption required | Works or exemption required |
One band up: band A. One band down: band C. Or go back to the full A to G scale.