The new Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) benchmarks for the rental market are “unlikely to succeed”, it has been claimed.

The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) suggested there are not enough trained EPC assessors to ensure the new standards are met.

It said there is “a shortfall in retrofitting professionals who are qualified to uphold the new EPC benchmarks”.

The new rules state that all rental properties in England and Wales must have a minimum EPC rating of C by October 1, 2030.

Additional training

The NRLA said extensive additional training of EPC assessors is required to ensure the new regime works effectively.

In its consultation, it said: “Given the relatively short timeframe for implementing the new standards, increased training requirements could create a bottleneck if assessors must undertake retraining while demand for assessments is rising.

“This could lead to a scenario where there is a shortage of available assessors to meet the increased demand for assessments.

“It would be practically advantageous for the Government to support the training of assessors before the new standards come into place. This would act to mitigate the stress that could be placed on supply chains.

The Government needs to be pragmatic when choosing the steps it wants to take to make this happen.”

Energy efficiency

Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, said: “We recognise how crucial it is for the private rented sector to boost its energy efficiency.

“But the Government needs to be pragmatic when choosing the steps it wants to take to make this happen.

“If it doesn’t address the ‘retrofitting skills gap’ – the shortfall in those retrofitting professionals qualified to uphold EPC benchmarks – its changes to energy efficiency benchmarks are unlikely to succeed.”