An industry body representing energy assessment professionals says rowing back on MEES in the private rented sector will hurt the poorest in society most.
The Property Energy Professionals Association (PEPA), having taken time to reflect on Rishi Sunak’s rushed announcement, has strongly criticised the Prime Minister’s abandonment of Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) in homes as condemning the poorest in society into fuel poverty for years to come.
Mike Ockenden, Head of Secretariat for PEPA said
“It is well known that landlords were improving the energy efficiency of their properties in anticipation of the minimum EPC C rating under MEES being introduced by 2028 at the latest. Currently set at an E rating as a minimum, MEES has progressively been delivering warmer homes and lower costs for those in the poorest performing rental properties and taking tenants out of fuel poverty. The Prime Ministers actions will halt this in its tracks.”
PEPA is concerned by the misleading statements by the Prime Minister about the cost of achieving improved energy efficiency. In many cases the cost may be relatively low, have short payback periods of a few years and will really benefit tenants. It is not all about replacing boilers with heat pumps; in many cases it is about improving insulation, reducing drafts and installing LED lighting and better heating controls. The lack of clarity on this matter over the last 3 years (since a consultation on increasing minimum standards) has already led to understandable confusion and inaction from landlords, plunging hundreds of thousands more tenants into fuel poverty.
Ockenden further commented
“Those of a cynical nature might suggest that Sunak’s announcement panders to the landlord contingent in the Tory party, and such a view might be compounded by the delay in implementation of the Renters Reform Bill which appears to be entering long grass territory.”
