Renters demand EPC upgrades as energy bills vary widely across homes

Not bothering to read to the end of this. E being the lowest EPC for a PRS landlord to legally rent out a property (except for very limited exceptions), it is therefore totally irrelevant to start using an F grade property as a comparison for the article about renters complaining.

The UK's man-made carbon emissions are just 0.03% of 1% of global emissions. Why should we be bankrupting our country for something which is miniscule to start with, and continually reducing in any case with the small actions we are all taking.

Forget EPCs. We can achieve net zero well before 2050 simply by manufacturing and building nothing, turning off our heating, not using transport, not having anything delivered to our homes and shops, and buying every thing we need from China, delivered on flying unicorns!

Let the eco-zealots do their work on India and China. Even Germany has re-opened [dirty] coal mines.

hahahahh - name ONE tenant who

1. Understands what an EPC actually is
2. Is happy to pay £x pounds MORE in increased rent (to pay for upgrades) in order to reduce energy costs.

I have tenants that barely put the heating on yet the 65p a day standing charge still applies. What 'energy costs' are they going to save exactly when 99% of the bill is nothing to do with their usage?

From Sept intend to take readings at every LL check so I can actually monitor tenant usage/consumption.

The current EPC is based on average use, but going forward any proper assessment has to be aligned to tenant historical use or ACTUAL use.

If it is going to cost me £X to get to C, then the cost will be £Y and spread over 7 years this means a rent increase of £Z to account for this. I can then also work out what 'cost saving' this will be to the tenant.

Energy consumption will also provide evidence (if needed) that condensation and mould this coming winter can be down to lack of heating and therefore down to T (if all building deficiencies have been removed) .

We all know that S21 is going so we need to start collecting evidence now to use for S8 if required.

Reply to the comment left by NewYorkie at 26/06/2024 - 12:15
the wording net zero always grates me. People forget that all this means is ONLY getting to a point where equilibrium is achieved. Even if that is achievable (it isn't). Then what?

Nothing is going to stop. Other countries will be still doing their thing, population expanding etc.

Where's the point for one country taking the 'moral high ground', bankrupting its own inhabitants when it makes absolutely no difference in the bigger scheme of things?

Are we really that worried about what MAY happen in 100-200 years time because of populist prediction?

It's alarming that over half of the UK's housing stock, around 18 million homes, has an EPC rating of D or lower. According to Rightmove, the financial impact is significant, with energy bills differing by thousands between homes with low and high EPC ratings. As someone in the industry, I understand the urgency highlighted by Rightmove and others for accessible green improvement schemes. These initiatives not only promise energy savings but also address the environmental impact of high-carbon homes. It's crucial for the next government to prioritize and expand such initiatives to benefit homeowners, landlords, and tenants alike.

Reply to the comment left by havens havens at 26/06/2024 - 15:25As someone who lives in a very poor EPC but charming Victorian villa in a Conservation area, I understand that my bill is nothing like that suggested in the article. I don’t like an overheated house (and generally don’t heat bedrooms at all other than the odd five minutes or so with a fan heater), use gas central heating very sparingly with wood burner in sitting room and an extra layer or two. Eleven foot plus ceiling height and a few draughts around the original sash windows - I dry washing inside in the winter and never have problems with condensation and mould.
Perhaps it’s because I grew up in the days before most had central heating - what I do know is I have often visited rental properties and found the CH blasting away whilst the tenants are dressed in T shirt and shorts.

Before double glazing, the EPC of my flat in 2008 was C. After dg was fitted it was rated a D in 2018. If the goalposts keep getting moved, then you could spend £20k on Green improvements …and still get a D. My EPC guy says there is nothing he can do about it. If the computer says no, it’s a no.
The whole thing is a farce.

Reply to the comment left by havens havens at 26/06/2024 - 15:25
Using your figures - so by default 50 % of all private rental properties are D or above then.

What about the EPC stats for the other categories?

The number of dwellings in England grew from 21.2 million in 2001, to around 25 million by 2021. There were an estimated 23.7 million occupied residential dwellings and of these, 15.5 million (65%) were owner occupied, 4.3 million (18%) were private rented, 1.5 million (6%) were local authority, and 2.4 million (10%) were housing association homes. More recent data suggests there are around 29.9 million dwellings in the UK, made up of roughly 25 million dwellings in England, 1.5 million dwellings in Wales, 2.67 million dwellings in Scotland, and 822,083 in Northern Ireland.

There is NO urgency here.
The issue is not about accessibility to green schemes or urgency to provide energy savings to tenants, because ultimately the cost of any initiatives are only ever going to be passed on to tenants via high rent. Who benefits exactly?

Certainly not the tenant!

Reply to the comment left by havens havens at 26/06/2024 - 15:25
What's a high carbon home?