Will your New Forest rental pass EPC C by 2030?

4,139 of 7,159 privately rented homes in New Forest are below EPC C, 58% of the local rental market. They must be upgraded by 1 October 2030.

How New Forest compares

Above average

A bigger share of New Forest's rented homes fall short than in most of England and Wales.

Best councils Worst councils

58% of rented homes here are below EPC C, against 53% across England and Wales. That ranks New Forest 119 of 318 councils by the share needing work.

Every band in New Forest

A 4

B 111

C 2,905

C is the line. Everything below it must be upgraded

D 2,769

E 1,166

F 148

G 56

Of 7,159 privately rented homes with a current certificate.

How many can actually reach C?

3,724 of the 4,139 sub-C rentals in New Forest, 90% of them, already have a potential rating of C or better on their current certificate. That is the assessor's own estimate of what the property would reach if the recommended measures were installed.

Landlords are required to spend up to £10,000 per property. Above that, an exemption may apply.

The transitional rule

An EPC rated C or higher on the existing Energy Efficiency Rating, issued before 1 October 2029, counts as compliant until that certificate expires.

Source: Transitional rule. Verified 21 September 2026.

Local housing stock

All tenures in New Forest, from properties with a current certificate.
Privately rented	7,159
Socially rented	6,167
Owner occupied	32,120
Median floor area	86 m²

Postcode districts in New Forest

Districts that sit mostly or wholly inside New Forest.

District	Post town	Rented	Below C	Share
BH23	Christchurch	2,196	1,152	52%
SO41	Lymington	1,584	848	54%
SO40	Southampton	1,451	695	48%
BH25	New Milton	1,246	657	53%
BH24	Ringwood	855	561	66%
SO45	Southampton	959	542	57%
SP6	Fordingbridge	531	408	77%
SO42	Brockenhurst	309	240	78%
SO43	Lyndhurst	219	176	80%