Ed Miliband: Landlords must meet EPC C targets by 2030

Reply to the comment left by Dizzy at 26/07/2024 - 11:01
When I read Mr miliband’s aim of 2030, all rental properties have a min EPC of C by 2030, I too thought with the next Gen Election before 2029 there must be a very good chance labour will not be forming the Government.
Has Mr M read and accepted EPC rules need updating?
If so, what is he proposing the changes are?
If not, why NOT!?
I am happy to improve the energy efficiency of my Rentals but only to the latest technology available not based on out of date data.

Reply to the comment left by Keith Wellburn at 26/07/2024 - 12:12
Great question

Reply to the comment left by at 26/07/2024 - 19:48
Only tax payer’s money

Reply to the comment left by Fred Flintstone at 27/07/2024 - 06:28
Was your assessor’s training course worth doing?
Was it financially expensive?
How long were you training
Should land lords follow your example?

Reply to the comment left by JeggNegg at 30/07/2024 - 11:26
Yes I would say it was worth doing - with the caveat that at about £1500 it wasn’t particularly cheap but it did teach me how to not spend £10k per property.
It took me the best part of a year doing it on and off around two busy businesses. It could probably be done in a month or less if you went at it.
As I said I think there is a business there perhaps charging people £500 per property for an EPC, rather than the £30-£100 for a “rush around” job, to calculate the most financially efficient way of improving the rating of the property. I think that would be the way forward for most landlords.
Of course, this can be done in a way purely to cheat the system and get no carbon/heat advantage but in my view should be done so that it is the best compromise of carbon efficiency vs financial efficiency.
eg I replaced a forty year old boiler with a replacement condensing combi because it had done its work for forty years and although in no sign of breaking, could have done at any point.
I probably could have spent a few hundred pounds on some different changes and saved a chunk of money but then it would have achieved nothing but ticking the box.
It is all a balancing act but it is getting more difficult to keep balance!

Reply to the comment left by PH at 26/07/2024 - 11:52
PH - absolutely correct. Now LLs will require a top tier KC to press a discrimination suit.

Carchester

Reply to the comment left by Elena Sh at 26/07/2024 - 10:25
"Millbob" was and still is a low IQ fool! he was when Prime minister. So doesn't expect he's improved!

Reply to the comment left by Dylan Morris at 26/07/2024 - 12:01
I agree, Millbob should be pressed why Council accommodation doesn't comply with the regulations. As always rule for one another for the hard working!!

Hi Guys,
Everybody or at least all PR Landlords seem to be Pi$$ed off with regard to this, with fairly good reason.
However, as a portfolio LL myself, I do feel that at least in my area (East Suffolk) LL's should be able to get their properties to a decent standard (at some cost, which would of course be passed on).
Personally, I rent out 3 of my properties to tenants who receive DWP benefits and I have asked if they would like to apply for upgrades under the EC04 scheme (to keep their future rent lower than if I had to pay for the upgrades).
They all did apply and they were all successful in obtaining 100% grants for various upgrades 1 of the properties only needed 4 points to achieve a C rating.
The fitters came to the property and installed, roof insulation, 11 solar panels, an ASHP, they replaced all the radiators, and installed a new bathroom heater. This property is now a B rating, the only points I did not achieve was for the underfloor insulation which I had installed myself because it was under 50mm thick. I did the underfloor insulation before the application for the grant was applied for. I had just hoped to get awarded the roof insulation grant to bring me to a C rating but I got all this other stuff as well.
Whilst I am of course, not complaining, I have no idea why they did all this other stuff, I suppose I had better shut up just in case Millibean finds out and decides that this house is now too warm and forces me to install Air Con.
Another of these properties has just received internal wall insulation and more loft insulation, but this property was an E and I don't think that the upgrades will be sufficient to bring it past a D rating. My next best and cheapest route to bring this property to a C will be to install Solar Panels which will still cost me around £6,000 (or should I say, cost my tenants, as all my costs will be passed down of course).
I have to agree with another of the LLs on this series of postings that the internal wall insulation just gets left at the plastering stage and the LL is left with the decorating to do and any coving which may be needed, a small price to pay definitely but yes there is still some cost to consider. The other property received roof insulation and window vents as this was also already a D rating. This should now achieve a C rating. All I had to do here was to install a loft access panel, so they could get access to the sealed loft, I say all I had to do, if anybody has ever installed a loft hatch in a Victorian property you will know that this is an incredibly filthy and messy job with about 3 inches of soot covering the Lath and plaster ceiling. Still, all in a LL's day I suppose.
My point is, I suppose, is that there are grants available right now for you guys to be able to take advantage of, especially if your tenants are claiming any DWP benefits. Even if they are not, you could possibly get some insulation for your roof voids as long as the fitters can gain access of course, as I also managed in another 2 of my properties, bringing 1 to a C rating and the other from an E to a mid D, (I will be forced to install SVP in this property as well to get it to a C)
So 3 of my properties will have to have SVP installed at my cost, as I see it, I can pass this cost down to my tenants via a rent increase (if I am allowed), this should not be seen as a detriment to the tenant as they would, of course, have cheaper energy bills to contend with, and I would make the rent rise fairly small so they shouldn't be any worse off on a yearly basis, my burden is that I will have to front the cost, which I will do when renewing the mortgages on these properties, i.e. borrow more. These upgraded properties should also be more saleable and have their values slightly increased as well.
It costs nothing to apply for these grants, they can only say no, so it's definitely worth a try.
Good luck!

Reply to the comment left by Tim Rogers at 26/07/2024 - 10:52
which is why the ECO4 is not all it's cracked up to be. Too many 'extras' or things the grant wont cover like remedial works and redec as you highlight which make it cost prohibitive, unless you can raise the rent after.

Every LL still in the PRS is going to have a very frank chat with all T's in situ if this goes ahead as this idiot is planning, because this is going to mean rent increases regardless at the end of the day.

By explaining this to my tenants in purely terms of financial implications (and property disruption for which I will NOT be paying any 'compensation' as this is being mandated by the government), I expect my tenants to sign something to say they do not want the work to take place until they vacate at a time that suits them.

We need to start telling tenants what's being planned and get them to start contacting their MP's and kicking off.