EPC reforms will be sensitive to individual properties claims government

The government claims its proposed EPC reforms will be “sensitive to the characteristics of each property”.

In answer to a written parliamentary question, energy minister Martin McCluskey claims the government has designed an “enhanced exemptions regime”.

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

Landlords are not penalised

The government has announced plans to overhaul the way EPCs are measured, arguing the current single-metric system is “insufficient”.

Under the current rules, EPCs are based on the amount of energy a property uses per square metre and how much energy it loses through factors such as poor insulation.

The proposed reforms would introduce four headline metrics: fabric performance, heating system, smart readiness and energy cost, with energy use and carbon emissions provided as secondary information.

In a written parliamentary question, Liberal Democrat MP Liz Jarvis asked: “What steps will the government take to ensure that landlords are not penalised for not meeting the EPC C standard where the final Home Energy Model metrics and band boundaries are published after landlords have begun making investment decisions”.

Sensitive to the characteristics of each property

In response, Mr McCluskey confirmed the exemption regime would recognise the characteristics of individual properties

He said: “Achieving EPC C by 2030 using reformed EPC metrics is one route to compliance with the new standards. Alternatively, landlords can start to undertake improvement works now under the grandparenting clause, properties which achieve EPC C or higher on existing EPCs before 1 October 2029 will be recognised as compliant until the EPC expires or is replaced.

“The government has also announced the maximum expenditure required and is designing an enhanced exemptions regime, recognising that efficiency improvements need to be sensitive to the characteristics of each property. We will set out more detail in guidance and regulations.”

A one-size-fits-all approach does not work

As previously reported by Property118, industry bodies have warned a “one-size-fits-all” approach to energy-efficiency targets is not the answer for older properties.

Propertymark has warned that for many older buildings in the private rented sector it simply won’t be feasible to install the necessary upgrades.

Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns at Propertymark, told Property118: “We support efforts to improve the energy efficiency of privately rented homes, but we continue to stress that the proposed EPC C requirements across England and Wales present significant practical challenges for many landlords, particularly those with older and traditionally constructed properties.

“A major concern is that a one-size-fits-all approach does not reflect the diversity of housing stock across the private rented sector.

“Many older homes, including pre-1919 properties, solid wall buildings, and heritage homes, can be difficult and costly to retrofit to EPC C using conventional measures.

“In some cases, the recommended improvements may not be technically suitable, could negatively affect the fabric of the building, or may deliver only limited gains relative to the investment required. Many of our agent members consider the target unrealistic for certain property types without sustained financial support.”