The Scottish Government's consultation on proposals for a Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard for the domestic Private Rented Sector closed on 29 August 2025, having opened on 6 June 20251. The regulations would be brought forward under existing powers rather than through the Heat in Buildings Bill1.
The consultation proposed that all private rented sector properties would have to reach EPC Heat Retention Rating Band C before being let, unless exempt from further action1. It sought views on applying the standard to all new lets from 2028 and to all lets from 20331. The Scottish Government has said the regulations are ones "which we plan to bring into force in October 2026"1.
The PRS standard is being taken forward separately from minimum energy performance standards for owner-occupied and non-domestic buildings, which the Heat in Buildings Bill would cover through future regulations1. The Scottish Government stated that the Bill "will introduce powers to set minimum energy performance standards for all buildings with a polluting heating system in future regulations, allowing for exemptions and alternative compliance routes where appropriate", and that "similar standards for private and social rented homes are being taken forward separately"1.
The consultation sits alongside wider Scottish proposals on heat. A public consultation on the Heat in Buildings Bill ran from 28 November 2023 to 8 March 2024 and received over 1,600 responses1. The Scottish Government said the Bill will not prohibit polluting heating systems in individual homes or buildings, and will instead set a national target to decarbonise all buildings by 2045 with a duty on Ministers to publish a strategy1. Regulations introducing a new EPC rating system, redesigned certificates and strengthened quality assurance oversight of the EPC assessor market are planned to come into force in October 20261.
The Scottish Government has not published an analysis of responses to the PRS consultation. Its general practice, set out on the consultation platform, is that responses are published after a delay for checks and that an analysis report usually follows some months after a consultation closes1.
Why it matters for households
For tenants in the UK private rented sector, the proposed standard would set a floor on the energy performance of a property before it can be let. A higher EPC band generally indicates lower heat demand, which affects how much energy a home needs to stay warm and therefore running costs. The MEES guide sets out how minimum standards work for rented homes.
For landlords, the proposals imply work on the fabric of properties that fall below Band C, such as insulation and draught-proofing, unless an exemption applies. The consultation did not set out final exemption criteria, and the Scottish Government has not reported the outcome of the exercise. The energy efficiency of the UK housing stock and the Scottish rented sector standards give context on where the stock currently sits.
The separate EPC reforms matter because the new certificates and ratings are intended to underpin minimum energy efficiency standards and to monitor progress against the heat decarbonisation target1. Until those are in force, the rating a property receives under the current system remains the reference point.
What happens next
The Scottish Government has said it plans to bring the EPC regulations into force in October 20261. It has not reported a date for publishing the analysis of PRS consultation responses, or for laying the PRS regulations themselves. The Heat in Buildings Bill remains at consultation stage in the parliamentary process described by the Scottish Government, with secondary legislation on standards and exemptions subject to further consultation1.
Sources1 cited
- [Proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill: Consultation
- Scottish Government consultations
- Citizen Space](https://consult.gov.scot/energy-and-climate-change-directorate/proposals-for-a-heat-in-buildings-bill), consult.gov.scot