No current ban on gas boiler replacement (June 2026)
Gas boilers remain lawful in existing rental properties. Landlords can replace broken boilers with new condensing models. The proposed EPC C MEES floor is not yet enacted in legislation but is the direction of travel.
Current position
As at June 2026, landlords can replace a broken gas boiler with a new A-rated condensing model. There is no ban on gas boilers in existing rental properties. The policy pressure comes from MEES (Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards) rather than a direct boiler ban.
EPC C and MEES: the real deadline
- Current MEES floor: EPC E for all rental properties. Letting an F or G rated property is unlawful and attracts civil penalties up to £30,000
- Proposed MEES upgrade: EPC C by 2028 (new tenancies) and 2030 (all tenancies), with a £15,000 cost cap — not yet enacted in legislation as at June 2026
- A modern gas condensing boiler combined with loft insulation and cavity wall insulation often achieves EPC C on standard 1970s–1990s stock without a heat pump
- Heat pumps achieve EPC B or A in well-insulated properties and qualify for the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant
What landlords should do now
- Commission a current EPC if more than 3 years old — SAP methodology has been updated
- Replace broken boilers with modern A-rated condensing gas boilers — lawful and EPC-positive
- Model the EPC C pathway using the Potential EPC section of your current EPC report
- Budget for insulation works (loft/cavity wall) as the most cost-effective EPC improvement
- Explore heat pump viability if radiators are large, insulation is good, or the property is being fully refurbished
- Monitor MEES legislation — the proposed EPC C floor has not yet been enacted
Sources
This guide is accurate as at 6 June 2026. It is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.