For the private rental sector, 2026 has brought one of the biggest legislative shifts in years. Between the expansion of the Decent Homes Standard (DHS) and the introduction of the Renters Rights Act, landlords are now under greater pressure to prove that their properties are warm, safe, and free from damp and mould for tenants.
On top of this, the deadline to achieve an EPC C rating by 2030 is adding another layer of compliance and financial pressure for landlords managing multiple properties, particularly for ageing housing stock. Understanding exactly how to prepare for the epc c requirements for landlords 2030 is now a top priority for property managers across the UK to ensure their portfolios remain legally rentable.
As a result, these changes have sparked a pattern where landlords, quite understandably, are trying to get ahead of the compliance deadline. However, in turn they are opting towards low-cost heating fixes, updating the heating system without considering the long-term compliance risks, and therefore conflicting with the updated DHS guidance.
With your rental income at stake, we’ve created this guide to help landlords and property managers avoid choosing the wrong electric heating system and ensure you’re compliant with the changes in Renters Rights Act legislation 2026.
What is the Renters Rights Act 2026?
Coming into force on the 1st of May, The Renters Rights Act has been updated for the UK’s privately rented property sector, providing: stronger tenant protections over eviction notices, renting with pets, rental costs, property standards, heating performance, and living conditions.
Alongside the expanded Decent Homes Standard 2026, landlords are now expected to supply homes that are not only structurally safe, but also warm, energy efficient, and protected against damp and mould. Tenants have increased power to report issues relating to inadequate heating or unhealthy living environments, meaning landlords may face greater scrutiny over how effectively their properties can maintain reasonable thermal comfort.
How the Renters Rights Act & DHS changes the heating rules
On a positive note, changes to the Renters Rights Act & Decent Homes Standard 2026 means landlords have a clearer criteria to follow.
As previously stated, private landlords were expected to supply ‘adequate heating’ to tenants, with this changing to ensure tenants are now provided with ‘a reasonable degree of thermal comfort’. Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) are factored into this, requiring landlords to prove their heating system is energy efficient. Crucially, the updated standards place far greater emphasis on whether a property can:
- Maintain a safe indoor temperature
- Prevent excess condensation
- Reduce the likelihood of mould growing
- Allow tenants to heat the home consistently, efficiently and cost-effectively
At the same time, the Renters Rights Act strengthens tenant protections with the opportunity for renters to formally report issues relating to:
- Persistent cold rooms
- Inadequate heating systems
- An increase in damp and mould caused by poor thermal control
- Heating systems that are expensive or difficult to operate
With greater focus on improving heating standards for privately rented properties, landlords can no longer see property maintenance as ‘ad hoc’, given the new legal obligations.
Why do cheap electric panel heaters fail the “damp test”?
Many landlords looking for a quick upgrade turn to inexpensive electric panel heaters because they are cheap to buy and easy to install. However, in the long-term this can actually reduce your property’s DHS quality score and risk making it noncompliant, or in terms of the legislation: a ‘non-decent home’.
Standard electric panel heaters rely almost entirely on convection heating, meaning they heat the air rather than the physical structure of the room. Over time this can damage the room, as moisture builds and could lead to mould growth.
Since warm air can hold more moisture, here’s how a cheap electric panel heater can put your decent home score at risk:
- When the panel heater switches off, the air cools rapidly, creating the perfect conditions for condensation to build
- This moisture gets released onto colder surfaces like walls, windows and ceilings
- Over time, condensation contributes to mould growth, creating inhabitable conditions for tenants
In poorly insulated rental properties, this cycle can happen repeatedly throughout the winter months. And without reasonable thermal comfort provided, these conditions can amount to exactly what the DHS aims to prevent: inconsistent room temperatures, higher energy consumption, and greater damp and mould risk.
Landlords should also remember that heating inefficiency is often tied to heat loss. If a property loses warmth quickly through walls, draughts, or outdated heating controls, tenants may be tempted to put the heating on for longer and therefore increase their energy bills without a proper resolve.
Upgrade your property with radiant heat: introducing Fischer’s 40mm HeatCore
When looking at radiant heating vs convection, modern electric heating alternatives have advanced from solely using convection methods. Fischer’s electric heaters are designed using a 40mm clay HeatCore technology, providing homes with more reliable, radiant heat.
Instead of only warming the air, radiant heat generated by the 40mm Heatcore technology helps warm the physical fabric of the room itself, including the walls, furniture, flooring and other surfaces that retain warmth.
Passing the ‘damp test’, radiant heat matters because warmer surfaces are less likely to attract condensation. Combined with smart control thermostats, consistent, radiant heat room-by-room helps to create a more thermally balanced home for tenants that prevents the risk of damp and mould growing.
Compliant with the DHS criteria, landlords can rest assured that their properties will provide tenants with:
- Consistent heating. Rooms will maintain warmth for longer, helping reduce temperature fluctuations that can contribute to condensation
- A reduced risk of cold spots. By warming room surfaces more evenly, radiant heat can help reduce the colder areas where moisture tends to collect (passing the ‘damp test’)
- Happier Tenants – improved comfort! Properties feel warmer without requiring tenants to constantly adjust the controls or increase their heating needs
Landlord Heating Compliance FAQs
What is the Renters Rights Act 2026?
The Renters Rights Act 2026 is a major piece of UK legislation designed to improve living standards and security for tenants in the private rented sector. Crucially for property conditions, it legally empowers tenants to challenge landlords over poor standards, including inadequate heating, damp, and mould, aligning private rentals closely with the strict requirements of the Decent Homes Standard.
What are the legal heating requirements for UK rental properties?
Under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) and the upcoming Decent Homes Standard, rental properties must be capable of maintaining 21°C in living rooms and 18°C in bedrooms when the outside temperature drops to -1°C. Fischer’s high-retention HeatCore radiators ensure these legal minimums are consistently met, protecting your tenants from the cold and your property from condensation and damp.
Do landlords have to upgrade to EPC C by 2030?
Yes. By October 1, 2030, all domestic private rented properties are expected to require a minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C. Landlords are expected to spend up to a £10,000 cost cap to achieve this. Upgrading outdated, inefficient heating to modern electric radiators with advanced thermostatic controls is one of the fastest, least disruptive ways to improve your property’s energy efficiency.
What is the best electric heating for rental properties?
To comply with the Renters Rights Act, landlords should avoid cheap plug-in panel heaters or outdated night storage heaters, which can be inefficient and pose safety risks. The best electric heaters for rentals are wall-mounted, radiant heat systems with programmable thermostats. This prevents tenants from under-heating the property (which causes damp) while providing a safe, zero-maintenance solution that protects your investment.
Book a free landlord heating survey today
Meeting the requirements of the Renters Rights Act and the Decent Homes Standard does not have to mean landlords have to foot the bill for expensive structural disruption or ongoing maintenance headaches. Finding a system that easily satisfies modern landlord electric heating requirements is the smartest way to protect your investment and keep your tenants comfortable.
With modern electric heating systems, property managers can improve the thermal comfort of homes, reduce the risk of damp and futureproof properties for further legislation changes — all while minimising disruption between tenancies.
Get peace of mind with Fischer, offering 10-year warranty protection* on all our electric heating systems. Chat with an expert from our team to book a free landlord heating survey today.