Call for EPC cash funding to help landlords

Call for EPC cash funding to help landlords

10:18 AM, 4th January 2023, About A year ago 2

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Propertymark has called on the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to widen access to cash support to anyone who needs it for improving energy efficiency in homes to include agents and landlords.

The body also wants a streamlined application process that would make access easier.

BEIS has consulted on the delivery of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) which is a programme to deliver energy efficiency measures in homes.

The new ECO Plus scheme will be an addition to the current ECO 4 scheme to deliver the rapid installation of energy efficiency measures to households.

Government says it wants to target cash support

The Government says it wants to target cash support to those on the lowest incomes and people living in the least energy-efficient homes in lower council tax bands.

Now, Propertymark has called for the delivery of the scheme to be as straightforward as possible to allow access for landlords and property agents.

The organisation has also highlighted that lessons need to be learnt on the ‘unintended consequences’ from previous energy efficiency schemes.

It says that a previous bid to improve the energy efficiency of owner-occupied and privately rented homes was hampered by the Government’s Green Homes Grant (GHG).

Limited by tradespeople having to be TrustMark accredited

That’s because it was limited by tradespeople having to be TrustMark accredited and registered with the GHG.

A spokesperson for Propertymark said: “Standards need to be met but stipulating that traders must register to the scheme diluted the number of eligible tradespeople, especially in rural areas.

“The scheme should be widened to older people and those that are particularly vulnerable to the cold such as people with respiratory illnesses.

“We also stated eligibility in Wales should be widened beyond council tax band C due to an increased number of people impacted by the rise in energy bills.”

The spokesperson added: “All rural communities in Wales and Scotland, which already do not have access to targeted support in England, should be eligible for ECO Plus regardless of whether properties are connected to the gas grid or not.”

Support landlords who have invested in properties

To support landlords who have invested in properties rated with an F and G Environmental Performance Certificate (EPC), Propertymark warns of the danger of landlords being excluded from funding and having ‘trapped assets’ with no support for improvements.

The private rented sector, Propertymark argues, should also be eligible for secondary heating controls but improving the fabric of buildings must be the priority.


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Comments

C CA

15:27 PM, 4th January 2023, About A year ago

Including all properties whoever own or use of it is the right approach.

Any scheme which target particular grouping is short sighted and will fail the overall objective of contributing to the climate change. Is like changing the heating system and keeping the windows & doors open.

I think there should be a fast application and facilities available to all properties but can be differentiate by interest costs whereby say landlords and other grouping pay a little more interest. but not a money making machine scheme for PR purpose which are plentiful in the market already.

The facility provided to LLs and other can be secured, long term, transferable and the current lender are obliged to accommodate with NO extra charge.
I looking forward to it HOHOHO

Scenic

13:08 PM, 7th January 2023, About A year ago

There should be consistent assessment as well, too often we read here of landlords spending significant amounts to upgrade only for an EPC assessor to assess the property as being at a lower level than previously- this is not an incentive to anyone.

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