Housing experts and charities call for EPC deadline for the PRS

The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) has teamed up with a group of charities and consumer organisations, dubbed ‘Warm this Winter’, to encourage the government to decide on a deadline for the implementation of EPC rules for the private rented sector (PRS).

The Public Bill Committee is currently scrutinising the Energy Bill and it is expected to undergo a third reading in the House of Commons.

Once enacted, the bill will dictate when landlords must improve the energy performance certificate (EPC) rating for a rented home to be at least a C.

The coalition members have now written Michael Gove, the Housing Secretary, urging the government to quickly implement the necessary regulations to improve energy efficiency standards.

‘Often live in the most inefficient properties’

The CIH’s head of policy and external affairs, Rachael Williamson, said: “Residents in the private rented sector often live in the most inefficient properties and suffer the daily consequences of not being able to keep warm and safe at home.

“The sector has the highest prevalence of damp of any tenure, and the evidence is clear that poor energy efficiency is often to blame.”

She added: “It is time for the government to follow through on its promise to legislate for minimum energy efficiency standards in the sector, something that will have positive ripple effects for Net Zero and Levelling Up as well as the health and wellbeing of private renters.”

The government carried out a public consultation

In 2020, the government carried out a public consultation on how to boost minimum energy efficiency standards for private rented homes.

However, they have yet to deliver the legislation to support the goal of upgrading all privately rented homes to an EPC Band C rating by – it has been rumoured – 2028.

With the backing of CIH and the Warm this Winter coalition, the push for greater energy efficiency in the private rented sector may soon gain momentum in Parliament.

Cold and damp living conditions for private renters

The delay in implementing energy efficiency legislation has, CIH says, exacerbated the detrimental effects of cold and damp living conditions for private renters.

Tenants in the least energy-efficient homes experience the most severe fuel poverty.

According to Citizens Advice, since the government’s initial consultation closed in January 2021, renters have collectively lost £2.3 billion on heating bills because energy efficiency standards have not been improved.

And CIH research reveals that more than half of the top 50 deprived local authorities in England have poor energy efficiency in their private rental properties.

CIH is also anticipating that the Decent Homes Standard, which will include thermal comfort levels, will be part of the Renters’ Reform Bill.

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