Housing Secretary Michael Gove said his government should “relax the pace” of EPC reforms expected from private landlords.
In a Sunday Telegraph interview, following the Uxbridge by-election, Gove stated that the timetable for changing minimum energy efficiency standards for private rented housing would be changed.
The 2023 changes were a precursor to reaching a new target set out in the Government energy white paper that was unveiled in December 2020 to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. This includes increasing the MEES for all commercial properties to an EPC rating of B by 1st April 2030.
The paper said:
“Mr Gove admitted that in his own department the government was ‘asking too much too quickly’ of landlords, who will be banned from renting out their homes unless they pay for green measures such as insulation and heat pumps to meet a new minimum energy efficiency threshold by 2028.”
And the Telegraph continues:
“Citing existing financial pressures on landlords [Gove] added: ‘I think we should relax the pace.’”
Responding to comments by Gove, suggesting a delay to energy efficiency proposals for the private renter sector, Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, said:
“It is over two years since the government completed its consultation on energy efficiency standards in rented homes. As a result of the delay in responding to this, there was never any hope of meeting the originally proposed deadlines, as we told the Minister earlier this month.
The NRLA wants to see properties as energy efficient as possible, but the sector needs certainty about how and when this will happen. Ministers need to develop a proper plan that includes a fair financial package to support improvements in the private rented sector. We will continue to work with all parties to develop pragmatic and workable proposals.”
One Response
Why not keep in the requirements but give back to the Landlords. Take out the higher rate of SDLT, and bring back some of the tax measures Landlord’s had against their mortgages. Perhaps even link tax incentives/SDLT to the EPC rating. Many things can be done to encourage Landlords to a) get into the rental section b) encourage Landlords to upgrade properties c) encourage Landlords to be good Landlords. The EPC reforms are needed and postponing/delaying them is kicking down the problem to someone else. It solves nothing. Typical Government.