Protect tenants from eviction for six years after EPC improvements – call

Protect tenants from eviction for six years after EPC improvements – call

0:02 AM, 7th August 2023, About 9 months ago 24

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Tenants should be protected from eviction for six years after their home’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) has been improved to help encourage them to apply for grants to help pay for the work.

That’s the verdict of Generation Rent which says that energy efficiency grants have been provided to owner-occupiers at a rate five times higher than that for private renters.

It says that needs to change because rented households are at a higher risk of fuel poverty.

Using data since 2010, the organisation says that fuel poverty has fallen by 35% among owner-occupiers and 54% among council house tenants, whereas the reduction was only 4% among private renters.

The organisation says safeguards against eviction and rent hikes for private renters are needed so tenants can access energy efficiency funding – which will encourage renters to apply for the grants.

A major obstacle is poor security of tenure

Generation Rent says: “A major obstacle to the take-up of grants in the private rented sector is poor security of tenure, which allows landlords whose properties are upgraded to raise the rent, cancelling out any energy bill savings, or evict the tenant in order to sell the improved property.

“While the Renters (Reform) Bill aims to improve protection for tenants from arbitrary evictions, it will still allow these practices so tenants will still have little incentive to apply for a grant.

“We are calling on the government to amend the Bill to protect tenants who receive an energy efficiency grant from eviction on ‘landlord need’ grounds, such as sale, for at least six years, which we estimate to be the time it would take for the average grant to translate into energy bill savings.

“And any increase in rent that reflects the improvements that the grant made to the property when assessed by the First Tier Tribunal.”

The group adds: “Landlords should also be required to raise the energy efficiency rating of their properties to C, to oblige them to accept grant-funded works to their property.”

Private renters experience fuel poverty

Generation Rent says that a higher proportion of private renters – 24% – experience fuel poverty compared to any other housing tenure.

It says there are 1.19 million fuel-poor renting households, whereas there are just 8.8% of owner-occupied households facing the same challenge.

The group says the key to lifting a household out of fuel poverty lies in energy efficiency improvements that boost a home’s EPC rating to a C.

They add that the government should not extend the proposed deadline past 2028, as has been mooted by the Housing Secretary Michael Gove, since the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), which extends grants for insulation households on low incomes would deliver the best solution to grant uptake.


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Comments

Mick Roberts

10:28 AM, 7th August 2023, About 9 months ago

I think Generation rent needs to go ask the Council for some houses cause the Landlord is an individual person & to tell him/her u not having your own property back when u want it-Means the Landlord won't give u the property in the fist place. And this is your problem Generation Rent. U & Shelter are creating a supply shortage which is making your tenants lives worse, not better.

I'm one of the biggest receivers of these grants in the UK. And it's absolute codswallop what u saying. In 2023 my tenants are not paying any more for an EPC E or C.

You are totally discounting the 60% of tenants in the UK who paying way under market rent cause contrary to your popular belief, many o fus Landlords look after our tenants. And guess what, you've not heard from my tenants have u? There u go u see, u ONLY hear from the minority with a problem, then u cause a problem for the MAJORITY.

https://twitter.com/MickRobertsBoss/status/1688481668032536577?s=20

Will u pls stop
@genrentuk
& @Shelter
. I wish to sell my houses but can't cause u making it impossible for lower earning tenants to move. You won't have any homes to start with
Protect tenants from eviction for 6 years after EPC improvements
https://property118.com/protect-tenants-from-eviction-for-six-years-after-epc-improvements-call/ via @wpvkp

Jo Westlake

12:31 PM, 7th August 2023, About 9 months ago

I would love tenants to engage with the whole EPC upgrade grant thing. On the rare occasions I have tenants who actually qualify for anything they refuse to apply or assist with my application. They tell me everything is fine and they don't want to be a bother.

Some don't tell me about a change in circumstances in case it makes me want to evict them. I've never evicted anyone so they certainly haven't got that idea from me. Must be all the media articles that have promoted the idea.

Obviously if landlords are paying vast amounts of their own money for EPC upgrade work out of the minimal amount they're left with after mortgage interest and Section 24 tax has been paid they are likely to need to increase the rent. If improvements were fully tax deductable it would help.

H MD

14:58 PM, 7th August 2023, About 9 months ago

I wish Generation Rent and its ilk a lifetime of renting sub-standard, poorly maintained high rise social housing from their local council.

They do not deserve a decent, well maintained home provided by conscientious private landlords. When the large corporates takeover the sector then GR will really be squealing.

David Houghton

15:31 PM, 7th August 2023, About 9 months ago

So what you are saying is if the landlord accepts a grant which benefits the tenant the landlord has to have a 6 year tenancy. Sounds a lot like a disincentive to accept grant funded work to me

Russell Cartner

16:22 PM, 7th August 2023, About 9 months ago

All the PRS accommodation where I live has disapeared. The Government, loony left Shelter and Generation Rent have killed it off Average EPC in England is Band D.
A Landlord on E, F or G will lose money on upgrading, if it is at all possible. Removal of Sec 21 will make it impossible to evict whilst costing you thousands in the process. The tenants lawyer will be free.
Get out while you can

Charles Baldwin

16:31 PM, 7th August 2023, About 9 months ago

What a load of ****! I can just imagine my tenants applying for grants to improve a property I just spent £20k+ on improvements. That was to take it from a D to a B. So does anyone think that tenants are going to apply and then give me the money back that I have already spent?

Tony Johnson

16:34 PM, 7th August 2023, About 9 months ago

As far as I'm concerned as a Landlord, 6 months notice is more acceptable than abolishing Sec 21. and would also be more tangible benefit to a decent Tenant.
Most of us on both sides can't disagree that 2 months to find a new home in the current market is short and stressful, especially with families and with children.
Most Landlords should not have a problem moving to a minimum 6 months but only if:-
1. Tenants are also required to give more notice say: 3 or 4 months.
2 Sec 21 is preserved in tact as a process to repossess for sale, major refurbishment, personal family or friends use, (subject to the 6 months notice) without having to go anywhere near the dreaded court system.
Of course breach of the Tenancy Agreement by either party should still trigger the option of an immediate termination by the other party. ( ie: Tenants not paying rent, causing nuisance or damage, sub letting etc or Landlords not carrying out their obligations of repairs & maintenance)
This would be more beneficial to both Landlords and Tenants and foster a better relationship than the current Reform Bill which is going to do nothing except cause mistrust between parties with no side coming out happy.
Why this hasn't been proposed by the Landlords "representative" to the consultations on the Reform Bill but instead section 21. appears to have been given up without even a fight is concerning.

Tony Johnson

16:43 PM, 7th August 2023, About 9 months ago

That Generation Rent are bringing in fuel poverty as a factor in the responsibility of Landlords just proves that they believe Landlords are social services and have a duty to protect poor people at their expense instead of the local authority or the government.

GR have proved again that they are not interested in a healthy rental sector but they want a socialist state with wealth redistribution.

Gove is an ignorant fool for getting into bed with these Marxist activists who are just using tenants for their political agenda and have absolutely no business or relevancy being in discussions over government policy in this sector.

Rerktyne

19:47 PM, 7th August 2023, About 9 months ago

The decent private landlords should go on strike! Keep the houses empty for as long as possible! Or as you can do moderate B&B then do that - including accommodation for people on the council’s needy list.
Make it clear that it’s the govt that is failing to house people and not us!
This country has become a parasite’s paradise!

Russell Cartner

19:49 PM, 7th August 2023, About 9 months ago

Whole lot easier to sell up

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