Labour’s plans to improve rental home energy efficiency ‘detached from all reality’
Landlord group warns tenants being 'sold a pup' as Government proposes less than two years to upgrade 2.5 million homes.
The Government’s plan to improve the energy efficiency of privately rented homes is unachievable according to the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA).
The current scheme under consideration could result in private landlords having less than two years to upgrade 2.5 million private rented homes. Ben Beadle (pictured), Chief Executive of the NRLA, warns, saying that tenants are being ‘sold a pup’ with timelines that are ‘hopelessly unrealistic.’
In its consultation, the Government is seeking to ensure that, wherever possible, every privately rented home will have an energy efficiency rating of at least a C. Under its suggested timelines, the new energy efficiency standard will be confirmed in late 2026, with a view to applying it to all new tenancies by 2028 and all tenancies by 2030.
Skill shortages
While the NRLA supports the Government’s objectives, it says the timelines fail in any way to take account of the chronic and growing shortage of the tradespeople required to carry out the work.
It points to data from the Kingfisher group, the owner of Screwfix, B&Q and Tradepoint, that shows the shortfall of skilled tradespeople in the UK is set to rise as high as 250,000 by 2030.
In addition, says the landlord group, Ministers are yet to explain how these extensive works are to be funded and have so far failed to heed advice from the Committee on Fuel Poverty, which has called for the introduction of a bespoke package to support investment in energy efficiency works across the market.
Noble ambitions mean little without practical and realistic policy to match.”
In its submission to the consultation, the NRLA has proposed a two-stage process. This would entail landlords only being required to meet standards related to the fabric of a building, such as installing insulation where possible by 2030. By 2036, they would then need to meet secondary standards related to the installation of smart meters and efficient heating systems.
Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the NRLA, said: “We want all private rented properties to be as energy efficient as possible. However, tenants are being sold a pup with timelines that are hopelessly unrealistic.
“The idea that millions of homes can be retrofitted in less than two years is detached from all reality, not least given the chronic shortage of tradespeople the sector needs to get the work done.
“Noble ambitions mean little without practical and realistic policy to match.”
Well said, Ben.
Just over half my portfolio are D rated due to my fitting Ariston 15 litre water heaters to most of my properties. These replaced the old 44 litre hot water storage tanks. Instant heat Triton showers reduced the need for stored hot water along with the removal of baths.
These water heaters are mis-classified as instant heat water heaters.
The EPC computer database is over 15 years old and the categorisation of appliances are equally out of touch with reality.
We have halted all changing of all domestic appliances (other than complete failure) until we see the new ratings.
The domestic appliance manufacturers appear to be ignorant of the EPC changes.
How can we meet the government’s over optimistic targets if the manufacturers of domestic appliance are oblivious to the changes.
Landlords are an easy target for this current administration.
Where will they house all the tenants who will lose their homes?
In the hotels with the asylum seekers?
Too ambitious especially as both Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves are now both landlords.
It’s a strange objective. As you say and taking it further, a more sensible option would be to enact that any replacement appliances must meet a certain standard from a certain date, thus allowing for current equipment to be used to its natural end of life before being replaced with something more economical.
Admittedly this doesn’t deal with other EPC measures, such as insulation, but given the lack of clarity from manufacturers of appliances it seems remiss to lay this at the feet of landlords to resolve at their own cost.