In March 2026 the government published its partial response to the Energy Performance of Buildings reform consultation and confirmed the centrepiece: domestic EPCs will move from a single headline rating to four headline metrics Partial response Mar 2026.
The four metrics
| Metric | What it reports |
|---|---|
| Energy cost | How expensive the home is to run: the descendant of today's EER headline |
| Fabric performance | How well the building itself retains heat: insulation, glazing, airtightness |
| Heating system | What heats the home and how clean and efficient that system is |
| Smart readiness | How prepared the home is for flexible tariffs, smart controls and demand response |
Confirmed versus still open
- Confirmed: the four metrics Partial response Mar 2026; existing certificates keep their 10-year validity rather than being converted or voided Partial response Mar 2026; and MEES will consume the new metrics, with the 2030 landlord standard defined as fabric performance first, then heating system or smart readiness Gov response Jan 2026.
- Target, not law yet: delivery of new-style EPCs from October 2026, a timeline the response itself calls ambitious, with enabling regulations due during 2026 Partial response Mar 2026.
- Still open: the remaining consultation questions (including final penalty levels and some scope points) await the full response, promised later in 2026 Partial response Mar 2026 EPB consultation.
What it means in practice
For sellers and owner-occupiers: nothing until your next certificate; the one you hold stays valid to its printed date. For landlords, the reform is load-bearing: the 2030 obligation is written against the new metrics, so fabric-first improvements are the ones least likely to be regretted. The side-by-side anatomy is on current vs reformed EPC, the engine change is on Home Energy Model, and the renewal timing question is on should I renew my EPC now. Dates land on the reform tracker as they harden.