16:45 PM, 23rd September 2024, About 3 months ago 92
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Ed Miliband is willing to risk a fight with landlords to meet EPC C targets, according to The Times.
In a speech at the Labour party conference, Ed Miliband says landlords must provide decent standards for private rented homes including reaching EPC C targets by 2030.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has announced that it will soon hold a consultation on proposals aimed at helping landlords meet EPC C targets for private and social rented homes.
The energy secretary told the Labour party conference: “We all know that the poorest people in our country often live in cold, draughty homes, many rent from private landlords whose properties are below decent standards.
“That is a Tory legacy and scandal. This government will not tolerate this injustice and we will end it. Decent energy standards for private rented homes that will mean warmer homes and lower bills for renters.”
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has now confirmed, a consultation is expected later this year, which is expected to include a cap on the amount landlords will have to spend on energy-efficiency upgrades.
This was set at £10,000 under previous plans by the Conservative government and Mr Miliband is expected to stick with a similar figure.
The government has also announced a new Warm Homes: Local Grant to help low-income homeowners and private tenants with energy performance upgrades and cleaner heating, and confirmed the continuation of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, as well as the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund, which replaces the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, to support social housing providers and tenants.
The Times reports Labour sources are willing to risk a battle with landlords to reach their green goals.
Chris Norris, policy director for the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) says more detail is needed on how the government will help landlords meet energy-efficiency targets.
He said: “The NRLA wants to see all rented properties become as energy efficient as possible. However, the government’s approach must involve a clear and comprehensive plan which recognises that the sector has some of the oldest, and hardest to improve, properties in the UK’s housing stock.
“The sector needs a clear trajectory setting out what will be expected of it and by when. This plan must also ensure sufficient numbers of tradespeople are in place to undertake the work that will be required.
“Alongside this, as the Committee on Fuel Poverty has warned, is the need for a financial package to support investment in energy efficiency measures. At present, the private rented sector is the only housing tenure without a bespoke package to support work to upgrade homes.”
Reacting to the news, Ben Twomey, chief executive of Generation Rent, said “The commitment to raise minimum energy efficiency standards in privately rented homes to EPC Band C is welcome, but must happen as soon as possible. This is a no-brainer to lift tenants out of poverty, improve our health, and address climate change all at once. One in four private renters live in fuel poverty, and we cannot face another six winters in cold homes.
“Any consultation must keep tenant concerns at the centre of this change, and home improvements should be paid for in grants that already exist for households at risk of fuel poverty. Renters must be protected from eviction and exploitation when grants received in our name improve the value of our landlords’ assets, while the government needs to be prepared to get tough with non-compliant landlords.”
A spokesperson for the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) said: “For many rural homes, often historic or off the grid, these targets range from unrealistic to physically unachievable.
“Landlords could be forced to spend £10,000 with no guarantee of improving energy efficiency, but the real burden will fall on rural communities.
“While we agree that practical solutions to help make homes warmer are to be encouraged, the proposed approach is blunt, regressive and will not work.
“Our recent findings show that concerns around changes to energy efficiency standards are driving landlords to sell or repurpose properties, worsening the rural housing crisis. We need to cut emissions, but the government must work with landlords on realistic solutions.”
Crouchender
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Sign Up14:53 PM, 10th October 2024, About 3 months ago
Reply to the comment left by GARY RIVETT at 10/10/2024 - 14:42I am locked in to as a LL even more so if CGT goes to 50% on 30th Oct!! My EPCs are just about C but my concern is the talk about a newly revised updated EPC-Home Energy Model ? Will mean mine might go backwards if they get all LLs to redo to the new EPCs before that last ones expire.
I am praying for this lot to be a one term government so crashing the PRS economy might be a price worth paying as renters can then decide who not to vote for.
NewYorkie
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Sign Up15:01 PM, 10th October 2024, About 3 months ago
Reply to the comment left by GARY RIVETT at 10/10/2024 - 14:42
I have one BTL remaining and, fortunately, it's at C. But I will sell ASAP due to the looming RRB. That means a S21 for a family with a young child. But I can't afford to wait because I know they will be able to prove they will be worse off [currently below market rent] if forced to seek alternative rental accommodation locally.
I've had a good 25 year run as a landlord, apart from one feckless tenant who cost me £20k, and I believe the rental sector will... must grow dramatically. But I cannot recommend BTL 'classic', as we experienced, to a young new entrant believing it is their path to financial freedom.
My partner is currently transferring her tenanted rental to her son, but after the tenant told my partner this week that she needs to realise she has more rights over the property than the landlord, especially with the new RRB, we are seriously considering if she should actually sell up.
Plenty of demand and high sale prices in the area. In fact, her best friend is just now buying a same build house 7 doors along, and would have jumped at the chance to buy her house instead. Timing, eh!
There are better, safer, less hassle options for £600k than letting. She's about to pay the CGT anyway, so her son won't have that to worry about. He can then decide how and where to invest it.
GARY RIVETT
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Sign Up17:05 PM, 10th October 2024, About 3 months ago
Reply to the comment left by NewYorkie at 10/10/2024 - 15:01
Jesus,
If the tenant threatened you, then if it were me, she would get a S21 immediately, it definitely shows what she will do in the future. That is one toxic tenant.
Good luck!
PH
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Sign Up18:42 PM, 10th October 2024, About 3 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Crouchender at 10/10/2024 - 14:53
I thought the Home Energy model is for new builds only. Miliband has already said the cut-off date to reach EPC C is 2030. Personally I can see this date being put back further not least because I can't see labour running the country by then.
PH
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Sign Up18:45 PM, 10th October 2024, About 3 months ago
Reply to the comment left by NewYorkie at 10/10/2024 - 15:01
Remember, regardless of the RRB it is YOUR house so stay in control regardless. If it means getting the tenant out now then do it. The RRB will make it more difficult but not impossible.
mark charles
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Sign Up19:40 PM, 10th October 2024, About 3 months ago
There are huge inaccuracies with floor areas of terraced houses with initial epc ratings.
One of ours was measured at 74m², it is actually 54m².
We have not applied for a new evaluation yet but hopefully will help in a small way to lifting or paultry E rating nearer to Dopey Ed's C.
This is an appalling inaccuracy as the amount of undue stress it puts landlords.
This was obviously a very poor estimate and will be addressing the assessor in no uncertain terms.
If you look at the government epc website, put the post code in of your property the street will come up and you can see the variations.
GARY RIVETT
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Sign Up19:58 PM, 10th October 2024, About 3 months ago
Hi,
No, the EC04 program is for all applicants (best if tenants apply) it doesn't matter how old the property is. If the tenant is on some sort of DWP benefit then they should try to upgrade the property to a C, otherwise, you may just get roof insulation, window vents, and heating controls. This is of course my experience only, but I did get several thousands of pounds of upgrades.
They can only say no.
Yes, I also think that this date will be pushed back, it is probably just a means to frighten LLs into doing something about their properties.
Desert Rat
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Sign Up12:43 PM, 11th October 2024, About 3 months ago
Reply to the comment left by GARY RIVETT at 10/10/2024 - 19:58
I've just spent the last 3 days trying to get a local EPC Assessor to renew 4 EPC's and cant get anyone to come. I've no idea how the government expect us to all get our houses up to a C by 2030
GARY RIVETT
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Sign Up12:55 PM, 11th October 2024, About 3 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Desert Rat at 11/10/2024 - 12:43
This should be fairly simple, have you tried the person who did the original EPC, otherwise you can go online (I have used Openrent and Nationwide EPC) or the Govt website will direct you to several people in your area.
NewYorkie
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Sign Up13:20 PM, 11th October 2024, About 3 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Desert Rat at 11/10/2024 - 12:43
Dopey Ed isn't concerned about the logistics of meeting his target, just virtue signalling his green credentials in the world stage. He'll be gone by then, in any case.
COP [out of our CO2 responsibilities] is coming up, and he will be in his element. The only problem is, if the biggest CO2 producers don't care about what they do, they certainly don't take notice of what a country which produces an infinitessimal 0.003% of global emissions does.