Are you worried about mandatory energy efficiency upgrades?

Here we go again, assuming that the revised MEES regulations will mirror the proposals in the consultation.

Is this actually law now ? And if so which law and when was it passed ?

The current law is as set out in the guidance here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/domestic-private-rented-property-minimum-energy-efficiency-standard-landlord-guidance.

However there is no doubt that landlords will be asked to increase the EPC rating to C at some stage - the only question is when. The Ukraine war and the urgent need to reduce energy use will only make this more important.

Frankly this is another shot at Private LL, as gov, council and housing associations get ignored again!

As for the epc's what a joke, own a flat on an purpose built estate, they are all the same, yet looking at the register I see anything from C's to E's for the exact same properties, what a joke this scheme is 🙁

Reply to the comment left by Tessa Shepperson at 14/03/2022 - 15:20Tessa, "when" is not the only question. We do not know for sure whether a C will be required - economic reality and the need to maintain a viable letting industry might reduce it to a D (wishful thinking perhaps but an increase to C will mean that 60% of the nation's housing stock is no longer available to the rental market). Others that are relevant and to which answers are needed before it will be possible for any rational decisions to be made about whether to spend significant sums (and on which measures) or sell up are, inter alia:
Is achieving a C rating (or whatever they come out with) the end of the story or just another step along the way?
Will the EPC rating system be changed to favour electricity over gas?
What other changes, if any, will there be to the EPC system to make it fit for purpose?
Will requirements regarding Environmental Impact rating be included and if so, what are they?
What level of expenditure will be required before an exemption is available and how long will this last before more has to be spent?
To what extent will expenditure incurred before publication of the new regulations be taken into account?
Will money spent on improvements be classed as revenue or capital expenditure for tax purposes?

Reply to the comment left by Seething Landlord at 14/03/2022 - 18:09
Your guess is as good as mine! If you are worried about these issues then you should direct your comments and questions at your MP.

IThe government needs to clarify it's position on EPC and reduced Carbon Emissions. Currently they are at conflict with eachother. An all electric house will result in a low EPC ranking below C (D,E or F). But if you have gas, the epc will be better but the carbon emissions standard will be worse. If you have significant solar paneling this will offset both slightly but at significant investment. Difficult or impossible for apartment blocks! The book offered by Tessa sounds like it would be an interesting read, particularly to those that are not sure on how to proceed. A must before any investment / sell decisions are made!

Reply to the comment left by Tessa Shepperson at 14/03/2022 - 18:23
The opportunity to raise these matters with Government was during the consultation period that ended in January 2021 and until they publish their response we are all in the dark.

I raised them here in response to your assertion that "At present, the deadline (for upgrading to band C) is 2028 for virtually all rented properties, apart from a few exceptions such as listed properties. So as it takes time for works to be done, and as suitable tradespersons are limited, landlords should start thinking about this now rather than later", the first part of which is incorrect and the second encourages landlords to make decisions now based on what might prove to be false assumptions.

Reply to the comment left by Rob Crawford at 14/03/2022 - 18:26
In my view the only safe way to proceed is to wait for the Government response. Anything done in the meantime will be a shot in the dark.

Maybe it should have read "At present, the deadline (for upgrading to band C) is looking as if it will be 2028 for virtually all rented properties ..." So sorry about that.

Although if landlords think that they are not going to be required to upgrade their properties to C before 2030 they are likely to be disappointed. Although lobbying may get the date put back (I think the NRLA are working on this).

As regards your other point, I'm sure landlord readers won't be making expensive upgrade decisions based just on a few comments made by me in a blog post!