EPC C rating or letting ban?

Only one slight flaw... you'll be the owner and legally responsible for failing to comply and be fined accordingly, and they'll probably get compensation because you claim you can't afford to do the works. It's one big stitch up, hopefully by 2029 the penny will have dropped that Homelessness has sky rocketed and like the Non Dom fiasco this morning they'll be forced into a rethink.

Reply to the comment left by Over taxed at 27/09/2024 - 11:22
my thoughts entirely. Any 2030 plan will be 5 years after the RRB tsunami and there will be more homelessness by then, a bulging temp accommodation list and more immigration.

Will we be seeing an agreement to take an influx fleeing from war the middle east conflict I wonder? More asylum seekers?

Whatever happens there will still not be enough properties for rent...

Anyway - will Labour even be still in power by then? Me thinks not at this rate....

Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 27/09/2024 - 11:32I live in a town of around 80,000 people with the majority of homes being inter-war construction, they're largely unsuitable for Heat Pumps due to space both for the unit and the larger radiators. External insulation is from what I have seen of it ugly destroying character properties and looking very likely to trap damp in the longer term - oh, we've tested it - heard that before with cavity wall...
The biggest irony is the rabbit hutches still being constructed don't feature Solar PV, Triple Glazing, Rain Harvesting or Heat Pumps, so why are we still adding to the problem? I needn't expand on the known subjectivity of EPC as that's been exposed on numerous times before. We need sensible eco policies but I don't see anyone in power pushing them.

Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 27/09/2024 - 11:32
Labour may, hopefully, not be in power in 2030 but the legislation will likely still be enforce unless amended by the incoming government on day 1 by a Statutory Instrument.

You make a good point about the opportunity with D-rated properties, but the potential consequences of this policy could be troubling. If landlords face fines for not meeting energy efficiency standards, many may have to sell, leading to evictions and instability for tenants. Instead of punitive measures, the government should consider offering support or incentives to help landlords make necessary upgrades.

Reply to the comment left by havens havens at 27/09/2024 - 14:04
Yes, that would be a logical way and reasonable of course, but labour are not like that. They don't care at all about making tennants homeless, nor that Landlords will be forced to sell up. That's what labour wants to happen, so that property can be bought by first time buyers, and it will lower the house prices too! At least that's their theory, and what they think will happen. They hate Landlords and the govenment think that they control the market and that they allow the PRS to exist or not.

They think that they provide the opportunities for investments, and control it completely though legislation. They are Marxists and Communists, and by high taxing workers and businesses they can control the ebb and flow of the game, and spend spend spend on their pet projects.

This is all fine until other peoples money runs out, and the whole rotten system eventually collapses. In the past when this has been tried, all over the world it's failed every time and always will, without exception.

It's all about supply and demand. The fundamental laws of economics.

Sell off any below C properties when tenants leave, and either replace with C rated ones and/or use the money to improve the EPC if you have any D and below rated ones left by 2030. Terraced houses are inherently more energy efficient due to having considerably less external wall area.
A set of solar panels bought on finance and paid for with higher rents will get most D properties up to C, and the cost of panels keeps going down for now. Hopefully that trend will continue to the end of the decade. I might decide to retire and sell up by then anyway.
A new high efficiency combi boiler and thermostatic valves with internet connected smart controls fitted by a reliable local gas engineer may also be in order and not cost too much. It should be time to replace many of them in 7 years' time anyway.
External insulation is extremely expensive compared to any savings and usually looks awful, so best avoided unless they reinstate massive grants like in the past.
My guess is that they will have to do something to avoid a cliff edge with mass sell-offs of rental properties. And that it will all be the fault of the greedy landlords who make poor working people homeless by turfing them out of their houses. If indeed we are still allowed to do so by then!

I wouldn't entertain buying anything that does not have a comfortable new, EPC C.

I figure that if I can get 10 years out of it, I'll happily sell as I'll be retiring.

Most of mine are already a C, any of the D properties that I can't affordably bring to a C will be sold.

That will be more people looking for homes that dont exist.

I'm sure that the government will find a way to blame me for it, but I will make damn certain that I tell the tenant why I am being forced to sell the house.

If you have E rated properties make sure the tenants claim some kind of benefit or earn less than £31,000 a year - they will then qualify for EC04 grants to upgrade the property - Had one done earlier this year .. solar panels, new loft insulation and new hot water tank .. tenant was claiming 89 PENCE a week Universal Credit, but still qualified - cost to me NOTHING

I teresting plan.
However, my understanding is that these requirements only click in on change of tenant.
Also T can sign waiver, well could under Cons scheme.
That said, if it were to be the case why should the LL not be required to provide alternative accommodation during the retro fit.
(I am a LL but can see nothing being off the table under this race to the bottom).