Labour confirms minimum EPC requirement for landlords
Energy minister says landlords will need to attain an Energy Performance Certificate band C for their properties by 2030.
Miatta Fahnbulleh (pictured), Under Secretary for Energy Security and Net Zero, has confirmed that the Government will bring in a requirement for rental properties to attain a minimum C grade by 2030.
This government is committed to reducing the number of fuel poor households in England.”
When questioned on the subject in Parliament by Green MP Ellie Chowns Fahnbulleh replied: “This government is committed to reducing the number of fuel poor households in England. We will require landlords to improve their properties to Energy Performance Certificate standard C by 2030.
“Ensuring warmer, healthier private rented homes will lift many families out of fuel poverty and reduce energy bills.”
Demand
Fahnbulleh’s boss, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Milliband said of the move: “More than three million people are in fuel poverty in our country.
“One thing that this Government will do that the last Government did not is demand that landlords raise the standard of their accommodation to a proper energy performance certificate standard C by 2030.
“That will make a dent in this issue, but the House should be in no doubt about our ambition to cut that number of 3.2 million as much as possible in the five years of this Parliament.”
As was reported in The Neg, The Tories had previously shelved their plans for the requirement believing it would be too costly for landlords, especially for those upgrading older Victorian properties, but Labour are reportedly considering introducing it without the original £10,000 price cap.
Senior Tory MP Bob Blackman told the Telegraph: “Large numbers of rental properties are just physically incapable of being upgraded to that”.
I spent over £40k on energy efficiency improvements, including installing solar panels, underfloor heating, a log-burning super-efficient central heating system, and a massive thermal store. Despite all this work, the assessor advised me that my house only moved from an E to a D rating! I was astounded to read the EPC suggestions recommending a £250k+ wind turbine in my garden!
This madness was highlighted in a Telegraph article I was featured in last April. Upgrading energy efficiency can cost thousands, with an estimated bill of around £70,000 for a Victorian solid wall house.
And now, this new The Labour Party #government is proposing to remove the £10,000 cap!
Is this government trying to make millions homeless? With this legislation, landlords will be forced to sell, worsening the housing crisis.
So to achieve net zero we target 19% of residential homes only and continue to build new houses without solar roof panels we reserve good farmland for solar panels. The fact is the EPC itself is flawed and here in Northumberland rural properties are often sandstone with a low EPC rating but like my own house the thick walls provide good insulation. I would estimate up to 35% of rental properties in the rural areas could not economically be brought up to C Grade so will be sold. Just hope they meet their social housing targets or are prepared for a u turn.
This is all very well and admirable but without grant aided assitance, landlords will be forced to put up rents to cover the cost or sell rented properties as the rental return will be reduced. Either way, this will lead to higher rents and reduced supply.