iHowz calls on government for clearer guidance as biggest EPC changes in decades come into force
11 months ago | 10 comments
Government’s EPC targets for landlords are ‘unrealistic’ – NRLA
9:57 AM, 5th June 2025, 11 months ago
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The government’s ambitions to boost the energy efficiency of private rented homes are ‘unrealistic’, the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) warns.
Current proposals suggest that landlords may have less than two years to improve more than 2.5 million properties to meet a minimum energy efficiency rating of C.
The plan outlines that this standard will be finalised by late 2026, applying to new tenancies by 2028 and all tenancies by 2030.
However, this tight schedule leaves landlords with a huge challenge to upgrade millions of PRS homes that currently fall below the required energy performance standard.
Timelines are ‘hopelessly unrealistic’
The NRLA’s chief executive, Ben Beadle, said: “We want all private rented properties to be as energy efficient as possible.
“However, tenants are being sold a pup with timelines that are hopelessly unrealistic.”
He added: “The idea that millions of homes can be retrofitted in less than two years is detached from all reality, not least given the chronic shortage of tradespeople the sector needs to get the work done.
“Noble ambitions mean little without practical and realistic policy to match.”
Shortfall of tradespeople
According to Kingfisher, which owns Screwfix, B&Q and Tradepoint, the UK could face a shortfall of 250,000 qualified tradespeople by 2030.
The government has yet to clarify how these extensive upgrades will be financed, ignoring recommendations from the Committee on Fuel Poverty.
It has urged for a tailored support package to fund energy efficiency improvements across the sector.
NRLA’s proposed EPC timeline
Now, the NRLA has put forward what it calls a practical two-phase implementation plan in its consultation submission.
It suggests that by 2030, landlords should focus on improving building fabric, such as adding insulation where feasible.
By 2036, further measures, including the installation of smart meters and efficient heating systems, should be mandated.
The NRLA’s call for a revised, staggered approach aims to balance the government’s environmental goals with the practical issues faced by landlords.
Tags:
Energy Efficiency Standards, Landlord regulations, NRLA, private rented housing, retrofit timetable, skilled trades shortage, UK Housing Policy
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Member Since May 2021 - Comments: 392
8:03 PM, 5th June 2025, About 11 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Gromit at 05/06/2025 – 12:24
Exactly my scenario but I’ll sell up once my ‘c’ expires in ’31. No need to put up with this rubbish after that.
Member Since May 2025 - Comments: 75
7:02 AM, 6th June 2025, About 11 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Gromit at 05/06/2025 – 10:26
Councils and social housing don’t need to comply with E let alone C. Social tenants are forced to live in cold damp houses or at least that’s the government rhetoric.
Sign my petition to force the government to spend £45 billion upgrading their housing stock to C.
Of course they won’t spend the money. They either have to explain they don’t care about the Labour voters they are housing or acknowledge it doesn’t make sense to spend the money. If they argue council tenants get discounted rent then it opens the door for private landlords to charge less rent for a poor EPC.
Currently my rents are increasing due to selective licensing and other rented reform costs. I have told my tenants to email their MP.
Rents will have to increase to meet C. Already done double glazing. Insulation, energy efficient boiler….
Sign the petition
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/718910
Member Since January 2023 - Comments: 317
7:09 AM, 6th June 2025, About 11 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Steve Roberts at 06/06/2025 – 07:02Agree and signed but the NRLA should be making noise about this as effectively its double standards and especially affects the poorer tenants
Member Since August 2023 - Comments: 47
10:58 AM, 9th June 2025, About 11 months ago
Labour wont be in government after 2029 stop panicking this BS will be gone
Member Since May 2015 - Comments: 2204 - Articles: 2
11:16 AM, 9th June 2025, About 11 months ago
If we get an extreme right wing government, one which abandons the ECHR (European Convention on Human Rights), then all landlords could be rounded up and sent to concentration camps (in Rwanda?). Then the least of worries would be EPCs.
Member Since May 2014 - Comments: 620
2:46 PM, 9th June 2025, About 11 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Crouchender at 06/06/2025 – 07:09
The NRLA should be making a lot of noise about this.
I have just spoken to my assessor today and he tells me that he has put his prices up because it is taking him much longer now to do an assessment.
The new changes have made it much harder to get a C
Apparently having extractor systems in rooms reduces the epc grade and not only do I have extraction systems in the bathrooms I have them in the bedrooms also because the tenants dont bother opening windows.
What about PIV systems, I presume these will reduce the grades further.
HHSRS require us to have extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms and if we do the Epc is downgraded.
You could not make it up!
Member Since May 2025 - Comments: 75
12:03 PM, 10th June 2025, About 11 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Crouchender at 06/06/2025 – 07:09
It seems the NRLA and many other organisations are anti common-sense (and maybe anti-landlord) and say things like “we agree with an EPC of C” and dont say “where it makes economic sense”. The only thing NRLA are challenging is the timeline – not the goal.
The EPC system is flawed and the NRLA should be saying this. The replacement EPC scheme might be better but I doubt it. Changing windows from double glazed to triple glazed is a comparatively cheap upgrade and according to the Building Research Establishment energy model should improve an EPC score but it doesn’t…..
I wrote this blog on possible EPC low cost improvements. https://think-we-are-stupid.blogspot.com/2025/02/landlord-epcs-part-2.html
Member Since May 2023 - Comments: 4
10:48 PM, 11th June 2025, About 11 months ago
The Government has conflicting policies which make it impossible for landlords and developers to comply. On the one hand the policy is to phase out gas boilers, to the extent that local authorities are actively instructing developers to only install electric heating and at the same time people are being encouraged to move to heat pumps by the grant system.
The problem is that these same people need to achieve an EPC C rating. However, the EPC system does not rate any form of electric heating, including heat pumps!
I am an EPC assessor and have repeatedly seen properties drop from a C rating to a D or E rating by moving away from gas.
Unless there is a major change to the existing system of assessment or policy of non-gas heating the whole housing sector is heading for a major disaster.