Government promises to help landlords with EPC costs

The government claims financial support is available to landlords to meet EPC targets.

In answer to a written parliamentary question, the government claim they want to expand the availability of private finance options to help landlords meet energy-efficiency targets.

The government has announced all private rented properties will need to meet EPC C targets by 2030.

Support is available to help landlords

Liberal Democrat MP Gideon Amos asked the government what financial support will be available to landlords to meet EPC C targets.

Minister for energy consumers Martin McCluskey said: “Support is currently available to help landlords improve their properties, including through the Warm Homes: Local Grant and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, and a zero-rate of VAT until March 2027 on energy-saving measures.

“An eligibility tool is available at the government webpage ‘Find Ways to Save Energy in your Home’, which provides tailored recommendations for home improvements to increase energy efficiency and clean heat.

“More widely, we are continuing to explore longer-term options to stimulate greater availability of private finance options.

“As part of the Warm Homes Plan, the government will establish a Strategic Partnership with the green home finance sector to help build and diversify the range of green financing options available from the broader market.”

Cost not worth the hassle

The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) have previously told Property118 that many landlords will decide the cost of retrofitting is not worth the hassle and choose to sell up.

Chris Norris, chief policy officer for the NRLA, said: “We are firmly of the view that rental properties must be as energy efficient as practicable. However, it is simply not feasible for every property in the market to be retrofitted to meet an EPC ‘C’ rating within the previously proposed time frame.

“The current proposal doesn’t take into account the varying age and condition of housing stock inside and outside of the PRS, the complexity of the work required, or the lack of appropriately skilled tradespeople needed to make improvements.

“Many landlords will therefore have little choice but to sell properties that will be difficult, and excessively costly, to retrofit. This will reduce the supply of available rental properties further reducing available housing during the ongoing, and acute, supply and demand crisis.

“Ministers need to develop a targeted programme of support to facilitate investment, as the Committee on Fuel Poverty and Citizens Advice has previously recommended.”