Propertymark hits back at claim it let agents down over EPC rules
The trade body says it has done everything it can to persuade the Government that new regulations must be realistic and workable.
Propertymark has responded to criticism that it hasn’t done enough to represent landlords on the introduction of EPC regulations.
Propertymark and NRLA were accused of failing to effectively oppose new EPC rules for landlords.
The Government proposes that any new properties for rent must have a minimum of EPC C rating by April 2025, and existing rental homes by 2028. There are fines of up to £30,000 for non-compliance.

Jeremy Clarke, a Belvoir letting agent in Christchurch, Dorset, said Propertymark and NRLA had meekly accepted that the changes were coming.
Clarke claimed it was too late now to stop the new regulations from hitting landlords who won’t be able to make the necessary changes to their properties.
He said: “They [Propertymark and NRLA] seem to have just accepted that change is coming, they have not, as far as I know canvassed members for views, albeit they normally ignore any feedback! They let us down badly over the Tenant Fee Ban Act!”
Realistic

But Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns at Propertymark, says: “The UK Government’s plans for minimum energy efficiency targets are part of a legally binding agreement to meet Net Zero by 2050.
“We engaged fully with the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) when these proposals were developed, using every opportunity to express our concern that a one size fits all approach would not work and stressed the need for timescales to be realistic and achievable.”
He adds: “We have also worked with the NRLA to publish research highlighting the affordability of retrofitting properties in comparison to the huge regional variations in property costs to draw attention to the financial impact the new targets will have on landlord and homeowner ability to pay.”
He says there has been no response from the Government following the consultation.
“Members of Propertymark have access to regular updates and opportunities to input into our policy and campaigns work,” he continues.

Push back
Chris Norris, policy director at NRLA, told The Neg he would “push back strongly” against the claim the NRLA hasn’t been doing anything.
“There is an awful lot of work going on behind the scenes. The Government hasn’t confirmed it will be 2025, and that’s partly because of the lobbying we have done in the last couple of years.
“We have canvassed members relentlessly on this, and at least three times in the last 18 months,” he says.
Fair point from both opposing sides.
There is no way that most landlords of 1920ish terraced houses going to be able to retrospectively do all this work required whilst tenant is living there.
And no way is majority of tenants going to be able to afford the rents that these works will require. And before anyone shoots me down, that’s fine for u to say that’s charging the normal high rents you can get, lot of us are charging 70% of market rent trying to look after long term tenant. Let’s go ask the tenant what they would like, £500pm for EPC D house or £900pm for EPC D house.
Slight typo’s by me:
Fair point from both opposing sides.
There is no way that most landlords of 1920ish terraced houses are going to be able to retrospectively do all this work required whilst tenant is living there.
And no way are majority of tenants going to be able to afford the rents that these works will require. And before anyone shoots me down, that’s fine for u to say that’s charging the normal high rents you can get, lot of us are charging 70% of market rent trying to look after long term tenant. Let’s go ask the tenant what they would like, £500pm for EPC D house or £900pm for EPC C house.