Heating Controls EPC Upgrade: What Croydon Landlords Need to Know Before 2030
If you rent out a home in Croydon, you have probably seen the headlines about EPC band C by 2030. The big question for most landlords is simple: what is the cheapest sensible way to get there? A heating controls EPC upgrade is one of the first ideas people hear about, so it is worth knowing what it can and cannot do.
I'm Eric, a Gas Safe registered engineer (577508) with over 15 years in the trade, including my time at British Gas. In this post I'll explain where the 2030 rule actually stands, how heating controls are treated in an EPC, and what I'd check first on a rental property.
Where the EPC C rule for rented homes actually stands
The government has confirmed that it intends privately rented homes in England and Wales to meet a new EPC C standard by 1 October 2030. This was set out in the Warm Homes Plan and the government's response to its landlord consultation in January 2026.
However, it is not yet law. The government's own document says the changes are subject to Parliamentary approval. It plans to take new powers through an Act of Parliament, then change the existing regulations, with the aim of having them in force in 2027. Until then, the legal minimum for a rented home is still EPC band E.
Here is what the government has said it plans to put in place:
- A spending cap of £10,000 per property. If you reach that spend and the home still falls short, you can register an exemption.
- An average spend of around £5,400 per property, according to the government's own impact assessment.
- Homes that already have an EPC rating of C or above before 1 October 2029 count as compliant until that EPC expires.
- Fines of up to £30,000 per property per breach for non-compliance.
- Improvements made from October 2025 onwards count towards your cost cap.
These are the government's published plans, so details could still change before the rules are finalised. I'd treat 2030 as a firm planning date, but check gov.uk for updates before you spend big money.
What the new standard actually measures
The new standard works differently from the EPC you have today. Rented homes will need to meet a main standard for fabric performance (think insulation, windows and draughts). They will also need to meet a second standard, and you get to choose between a smart readiness measure or a heating system measure.
This matters for controls. The government says measures under the heating system side could include heating controls. But the main fabric standard still has to be met, and controls do nothing for that.
How much does a heating controls EPC upgrade add to a rating?
The honest answer is a small amount, and it depends on what is already in the property. The figures below come from one assessor's worked example on a 1950s terraced house, using the current EPC method. Your property will differ, so please use them as a guide only.
Standard controls (room thermostat, programmer and TRVs)
A room thermostat, a programmer and thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) are the basic set. In the worked example, going from no controls at all to all three added 4 points. Adding only the missing TRVs added just 1 point. For TRVs to count, they need to be fitted on at least half of the radiators.
Zoning (separate heating times and temperatures for different areas)
Splitting the home into at least two zones, each with its own timing and temperature control, can be recorded in an EPC. In the same example it added 2 points on top of standard controls. Ordinary TRVs alone do not count as zoning because they don't set separate heating times.
Weather and load compensation
These controls lower the boiler's flow temperature when less heat is needed, which helps a condensing boiler run more efficiently. The EPC credit is small (1 point in the example), and the device must be on an official product database and listed as compatible with your specific boiler. That is easy to get wrong, so check before buying.
Smart thermostats
Smart thermostats are popular with tenants and can cut wasted heating, but I would not buy one purely for the EPC. Credit for them is not guaranteed and depends on how your assessor records the system, so ask your assessor what, if anything, it would earn on your property first.
Are heating controls the most underrated EPC upgrade?
Short answer: they are useful, cheap and often overlooked, but they are not a silver bullet. A point or two can be enough to push a borderline property over a band boundary, which is why they are worth checking. But if a rental sits several points below C, controls alone will not get it there. Insulation and the heating system itself usually do the heavy lifting.
Local data points the same way. Figures compiled by EPA UK from the EPC register show that around 54% of EPC-rated homes in Croydon are band D or below, and wall insulation is the most commonly recommended improvement across the borough.
What I check on rental heating systems
When I look at a rented property in Croydon, Sutton or Wimbledon, the controls tell me a lot about how well the system has been looked after. This is my checklist:
- Is there a working room thermostat and programmer, and is the thermostat in a sensible spot?
- Are there TRVs on most radiators, and are they actually moving freely and not seized?
- Is the boiler old, and does it have the controls it needs to work properly?
- Is the annual boiler service up to date?
Fixing these things is often quick and low cost. It also keeps tenants warmer and cuts down on call-outs. Our Heating myths busted post covers more of the everyday basics.
What Croydon landlords should do now
1. Look up your property's current EPC on gov.uk and read the recommendations list.
2. Get a Gas Safe engineer to check your controls, TRVs and boiler during your next service or landlord gas safety check.
3. Ask a qualified energy assessor to model any upgrade before you spend money, because the benefit varies between properties.
4. Keep receipts and records for any work, as improvements from October 2025 count towards the cost cap.
5. Don't wait for 2029. A well-timed upgrade at a boiler service is cheaper than a rushed one.
Book a landlord gas safety check
Not sure what your rental property needs? If your landlord gas safety certificate (CP12) or annual boiler service is due, we can check your controls at the same visit. Visit our landlords page, or call 0208 088 9899.
