Student property landlords face the biggest bills for upgrades to meet EPC standards by the 2030 deadline.

That’s the finding of analysis by the Daily Telegraph newspaper, which found that costs to reach the required grade could end up being more than £27,000.

The Government has begun consulting on its plans to force landlords to upgrade their properties to a minimum EPC band C by 2030, and two years earlier for new tenancies.

Cut bills

Deputy PM Angela Rayner claims the move will cut tenants’ energy bills by £240 annually, and lift 500,000 households out of fuel poverty.

The proposed legislation could include a cost cap of £15,000 per property, and it appears many student landlords will have to find the maximum amount.

Currently, 48% of all private rented homes already meet EPC C standards.

Poor ratings

But many homes in university towns and cities have poor EPC ratings of D or lower, the Telegraph says.

For example, Hyde Park in Leeds, one in six rental homes, or around 1,600 properties, do not meet the standard.

And it could cost between £13,700 and £28,700 to bring the average home up to a C rating.

Other student neighbourhoods where there was a concentration of inefficient homes included Lenton in Nottingham, Fallowfield in Manchester, and Selly Oak in Birmingham.

Student landlords are looking at a very, very difficult period over the next few years.”

Chris Norris, Policy Director at the NRLA, said “almost all student landlords with property below an EPC C would have to work towards the 2028 deadline since most students only stay one academic year”.

“Student landlords are looking at a very, very difficult period over the next few years as the combination of the Renters’ Rights Bill reforms and The Domestic Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard hits.”

Industry slams Labour’s plan to mandate Band C EPCs by 2030

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