9:38 AM, 10th February 2025, About A day ago 16
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Research reveals that 2.58 million homes in the private rented sector will need upgrading to meet an EPC C requirement.
The findings from epIMS come after the government announced its EPC consultation which could see new tenancies having to meet the C Rating from 2028.
For all tenancies, the deadline is 2030.
However, the government says that it could cost up to £8,000 to upgrade – meaning England’s landlords face a £19.8 billion bill to meet these new standards.
In London, where there are 1.2 million private rentals, upgrading costs are higher at £9,000 to leave landlords looking at a total bill of £4.7 billion.
The firm’s Craig Cooper said: “It’s estimated that over 2.5m privately rented properties currently hold an EPC rating of below a C and so the government’s intention to make a C rating mandatory by 2030 will have a notable impact on the current rental market landscape.
“The average landlord is thought to have eight properties within their portfolio and with the average cost to bring a sub-C rated home up to compliance coming in at £8,000, that’s a potential required investment cost of £64,000 over the next five years in order to ensure their portfolio is compliant.”
He added: “The worry is that forcing a mandatory EPC C rating on the nation’s landlords could cause more to exit the sector, exacerbating the current rental crisis in the process.
“However, what many landlords don’t realise is that an EPC rating is actually compiled using a points-based system and so achieving a C rating could be well within their reach by making just a few small improvements to their rental properties.”
A recent survey commissioned by epIMS revealed a startling lack of awareness among landlords with 40% being unaware of the consultation.
Also, 42% did not know that the minimum EPC standard will soon be upgraded to a C.
And 27% were unsure of the current EPC ratings of their properties – with 32% of landlords unaware of the EPC ratings points system.
Researchers found that 65% of landlords do not know how many points are needed for a C rating.
When asked about their plans for making the necessary improvements, 75% of landlords stated they would wait until the 2030 deadline, with only 15% intending to act within the next year.
The primary challenges cited were the cost of improvements and a lack of understanding about which changes would positively impact their EPC scores.
Homes built after 1990 fare better, with nearly 83% holding a C rating or above.
In contrast, only 39% of pre-1990 homes meet this standard.
Upgrading an EPC D property to a C could reduce annual energy bills by 29% (£717).
For an E rated property, the savings could be 48% (£1,685) per year.
Properties with F and G ratings could see reductions of 61% (£2,838) and 70% (£4,240) respectively, leading to potential savings of over £21,000 in five years.
Northernpleb
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Sign Up10:39 AM, 10th February 2025, About A day ago
If you Check on the Telegraph Report it had a section where you could find the Average EPC for the Region by post codes . In all the100`s of areas listed I did not see any area with an average Rating above D.
I have also checked in Post code where there are 1930 semi, Terraced , and pre 1960 built properties. And in whole streets and areas there were only D and E showing.
The Government is trying to convince the public that Private Tenants are living in worse conditions than others .
ellis freeman
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Sign Up12:14 PM, 10th February 2025, About A day ago
And it still only relates to prs, not social housing, can this not be challenged?
Jo Westlake
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Sign Up13:00 PM, 10th February 2025, About A day ago
How do they calculate the assumed energy cost savings?
I have houses in 5 different EPC bands A to E) and the difference in energy bills isn't that great.
The cheapest of all of them for both gas and electric has an EPC C71.
The most expensive for gas also has EPC C71. Annual gas bills for those 2 are predicted to be £677.36 and £1145.10. Even though they have an identical EPC score one is £468 more expensive to heat than the other one.
Gas usage is easy to quantify and presumably gives the best indication regarding heat loss.
Electricity consumption is much harder to compare due to solar panels, battery storage, EV consumption and Time of Use tariffs.
The figures for my EPC A93 house are:
Gas £917.63
Electric £824.48 (solar panels, EV, Intelligent Octopus Go tariff)
For my EPC E57 6 person HMO
Gas £985.03
Electric £1758.96 (standard tariff, oven being used for many hours a day)
Desmond
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Sign Up13:21 PM, 10th February 2025, About A day ago
The talk of energy bill reduction is disingenuous double speak. Currently using gas scores better than electricity because it is cheaper, but in the new 2026 framework, that is turned on it's head, so it isn't really about cost to the tenant. I imagine rather it comes from bureaucrats attending UN / WEF workshops and following their orders.
Liam
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Sign Up13:28 PM, 10th February 2025, About A day ago
Reply to the comment left by Jo Westlake at 10/02/2025 - 13:00
Hi Jo.
The figures you gave for the 6 bed HMO seem very low. Can you confirm that's correct? You said about £2700 total for gas and electric which is about £225 a month?
Thanks.
Cider Drinker
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Sign Up13:31 PM, 10th February 2025, About A day ago
Raising EPC standards has led to many homes suffering g damp and mould. Raising EPC standards higher will add to the problem.
Homes built in the early 20th Century were not designed for modern living. They need to breathe.
If Labour really want to reduce the UK’s carbon emissions, secure the borders and return migrants and second generation migrants to their own countries. Fewer people would use less energy.
Seabass
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Sign Up14:02 PM, 10th February 2025, About 24 hours ago
My single rented property has a recent rating of 67D, 10 years ago it was 68D. All the small things have been done, with the remaining improvements being installation of solar panels, solar hot water insulation of solid concrete floors, any one of which are estimated at several thousand £ acc. to the certificate. It's a crazy situation, as the house is more up to date (replaced kitchen, bathroom, boiler, double glazing) than when I lived in it. Is it just a sit-tight situation and hope for grants or exemption when the time comes?
Cider Drinker
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Sign Up14:44 PM, 10th February 2025, About 23 hours ago
Reply to the comment left by Seabass at 10/02/2025 - 14:02
What heating do you have Seabass?
I know of one that reached a C rating simply by removing the decorative electric fire in the lounge.
LaLo
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Sign Up14:49 PM, 10th February 2025, About 23 hours ago
When our central heating is used on a cold day the amount of exhaust given off by the gas boiler is phenomenal yet the ban on the sale/installation of gas boilers from 2035 is to be scrapped! So much for zero carbon by 2030 - the whole thing is a farce! Modern houses are hermetically sealed to achieve a good EPC but are they healthy? I grew up in a Victorian house with drafty sash windows and doors and cold due to no central heating yet there was no mould due to the house being able to breath. Yes, people can always open a window in a modern house but would that happen on a cold day - I don’t think so!
Seabass
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Sign Up14:59 PM, 10th February 2025, About 23 hours ago
Reply to the comment left by Cider Drinker at 10/02/2025 - 14:44
Gas boiler (2 years old) central heating, TRVs, timer. No electrical heating or fires.