9:30 AM, 13th February 2025, About 12 hours ago 26
Text Size
Proposals in a government consultation could force landlords to update their EPCs every time a tenant renews their tenancy agreement, even if it’s with the same tenant.
Under current rules, EPCs are valid for ten years, and when they expire, a new one isn’t needed unless you’re entering a new tenancy with new tenants or selling the property.
Following on from yesterday’s article about the proposed EPC changes, we delve deeper into what the proposed changes to EPC validity could mean for landlords.
In a consultation on EPCs, the government suggests forcing landlords to update EPCs more frequently.
The consultation says: “We are proposing to introduce for private rental properties a new trigger point where an EPC is required for when the current one expires.”
The government suggests that updating an EPC would be similar to updating a gas safety certificate, which is required every 12 months.
“This measure would also support energy performance improvements in PRS buildings that are subject to minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES). It would be similar to other requirements on landlords throughout tenancies, such as valid building insurance or gas safety certificates, and can be managed through letting agents where appropriate.
“Close working between MEES enforcement bodies and EPC enforcement bodies can assist with managing overall compliance rates”.
Behind the government’s push to require a valid EPC throughout a tenancy, the consultation says the average tenant in the private rented sector stays for 4.3 years.
The government argues this means many long-term tenants could be living in properties without an up-to-date EPC.
The consultation says: “In addition, even if a tenant is in a property for less than the average period, the EPC for that property could still expire while they were living there.
“The presence of a valid EPC throughout a tenancy, rather than solely at the point of marketing, would ensure landlords and tenants are equipped with accurate and up-to-date information. This could also help improve compliance with government policies and commitments such as MEES and ensure that properties remain attractive to existing and potential tenants.”
The government claims that reducing the validity period of EPCs could allow building upgrades, such as fabric changes, to be captured more frequently.
The consultation says this would provide prospective buyers and tenants with more accurate and up-to-date information to inform decision making which may directly impact their cost of living.
The government does admit that reducing the validity period would greatly impact private landlords.
However, claims landlords will only incur a “small increase in costs from regular EPCs.”
The government recently announced all private rented sector properties will need to meet EPC C targets by 2030 and 2028 for new tenancies.
Numerous articles on Property118 have revealed the cost of upgrading a property to a C could cost thousands of pounds, and if the validity of EPCs changes, this could mean landlords will have to spend even more on upgrades just to stay compliant.
The government has said that if they reduce the validity period of EPCs, there are several ways they could introduce the change.
The consultation outlines different approaches, such as allowing existing EPCs to remain valid until they naturally expire, immediately invalidating all 10-year EPCs when the new rules come in, or introducing a two-year transition period before the new validity rules take full effect.
Stay tuned for more articles on the EPC consultation where we will delve deeper into the new metrics that will measure EPCs.
AT
Become a Member
If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!
Sign Up15:32 PM, 13th February 2025, About 6 hours ago
Reply to the comment left by SirAA at 13/02/2025 - 15:04
When there are 5 to 15 tenant's fighting for a property all of them will stop and say, hey its not efficient enough for me, I don't want it.
Ross Tulloch
Become a Member
If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!
Sign Up16:07 PM, 13th February 2025, About 5 hours ago
I don’t think in the 300 rental agreements I’ve had 300 tenants for anybody has ever been remotely interested in the EPC. Certainly nobody has asked.
AT
Become a Member
If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!
Sign Up16:41 PM, 13th February 2025, About 5 hours ago
Reply to the comment left by Ross Tulloch at 13/02/2025 - 16:07
Ross, exactly, one or two ask when we present them with EPC readings and offer them a link to check online as well. NO ONE CARES, they want location and maybe negotiate the rent and exit terms based on their own employment contracts.
I used to work as a Contractor for the largest Telecom in UK, I helped launched quiet a few services. The MAIN stream running through the company at managerial levels was; "what can we do this week to hold unnecessary meetings to F-UP beautiful systems that are already in place".
The government is like that, they don't stop their Regulations Juggernaut. Look at what DOGE is reveling in US, hopefully we can do the same and allow us to breathe.
My Wishlist would be lifetime PRS fixed loans provided by a government body, we can then offer properties at sensible prices into the market.
The government needs to recognise we are providing a service / housing people. We are a patient bunch.
Simon Williams
Become a Member
If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!
Sign Up17:26 PM, 13th February 2025, About 4 hours ago
Some people are fretting unnecessarily here. Allow me to reduce you pulse rate at least slightly.
The consultation merely points out that if you have a (10 year) EPC that expires mid tenancy, you don't actually need to renew it on expiry. You only need to renew it when you re-let which could be several years after the last one actually expired. The government is proposing to change this so that when the existing EPC expires, it must immediately be renewed rather than waiting for the property to be re-let. That is really NOT a big deal tbh.
Now, there are a few other things worth saying. First, the government expects new measuring methods for EPC's to come in for the second half of 2026. So, if your property currently reaches C, it may be worth renewing under the existing system and hopefully locking in compliance for another 10 years.
BUT (and secondly), the government is asking people in its consultation, whether existing EPCs under the current system should be cut short and be less than 10 years (so that the new measuring system will establish itself faster). So the existing EPCs might end up with a shorter life than we hope. HOWEVER, the government states that, (surprisingly), its preferred option is actually to allow existing EPCs (if at C or above) to last their FULL validity period of 10 years!! I think is because they want to incentivise us all to get to C asap and the reward will be 10 years of certainty.
Finally, and thirdly, when the new style EPCs kick in from the later part of 2026, they may NOT have a 10 year validity period. The government expresses no clear view on desired length for the NEW style EPCs and asks for views. So we could end up with just 2 year certificates or maybe as long as 10 years for the NEW style EPCs from late 2026. If I was a betting man, I would say it might well be 5 years in line with electrical certificates, but we just don't know.
My advice: If you make it to C under the existing system, think seriously about renewing just before the new system comes in late 2026. That could buy you a worry-free 10 years, by which time you can retire and bugger off somewhere warm and decidedly un-socialist.
PH
Become a Member
If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!
Sign Up19:03 PM, 13th February 2025, About 2 hours ago
Reply to the comment left by Shaheen Hamadani at 13/02/2025 - 11:42
I watched his videos too, he talks common sense which the UK government sadly lacks. I read today that there are 100 sites in the UK earmarked for building all these new homes which equates to 15000 homes per site on average, feasible?... absolutely not ! Are they going to be built with underfloor insulation/heating, solar panels, wind turbines, heat pumps? Thought not. Do as I say not as I do once again.
PH
Become a Member
If you login or become a member you can view this members profile, comments, posts and send them messages!
Sign Up19:08 PM, 13th February 2025, About 2 hours ago
Reply to the comment left by SirAA at 13/02/2025 - 15:04
They couldn't care less about LL or tenants it is very obvious otherwise the constant LL bashing wouldn't exist. It is not about improving housing for tenants or saving them money it is about ridding the country of the PRS.