Landlords face soaring costs and EPC downgrades under new rules

Reply to the comment left by Beaver at 18/06/2025 – 11:11
I don’t think any eviction to carry out EPC upgrades will be permanent. I expect the tenancy will have to be left open so the tenant can move back in once the work is done. The landlord will lose rent but will probably have to additionally compensate the tenant for moving out and moving back in costs and who knows, have to chip in for temporary accommodation costs if the money saved on rent does not compensate the tenant for temporary accommodation.
Faced with the prospect of having to move out and extra rent afterwards and minimal savings on energy bills most tenants would opt to stay just as they are and exemption should be granted (maybe the NRLA could provide a form of letter for tenants to sign so the landlord can gain exemption for five years). If the tenants leave of their own accord, the property will need upgrading to let it out again. At that point the landlord can either get the work done free of any tenant hassles or sell with vacant possession.

Crackers, how much more would they like tenants to pay?
Tenants can’t afford these 2025 standards, we all know new builds cost more money, that’s why many choose to not buy or live a new build.

Here’s me EPC video to Ed Miliband when he started to wreck tenants lives again around Feb time, for those that haven’t seen it.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/QxUPeHUSFRLyLn9p6

Ooh & it says it here too on more modern homes costing more:

https://www.property118.com/modern-prs-homes-in-england-carry-an-18-rent-premium/

Reply to the comment left by northern landlord at 19/06/2025 – 10:41
What a good idea! Sadly, it’s way to simple for an (un)civil servant to understand.

Reply to the comment left by Sally Robinson at 17/06/2025 – 12:09
It came in on June 15th. It’s already here.

Reply to the comment left by Suicide Jockey at 17/06/2025 – 11:03These rules were set up by the previous government – its taken two years (and too long) for them to come out. So blame Rishi or Boris for getting the ball rolling.

Reply to the comment left by northern landlord at 19/06/2025 – 10:41
I think that if the landlord has to “compensate the tenant” for moving out in order to do EPC works then for many of the smaller landlords they will be moving family members back in.

For many of the others, yes they will be looking at what exemptions are available.

For those wondering about the impact of the new Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) assessments, I’d like to share my recent experience over the past few days.

I am in the process of renting out my home, as my family and I prepare to relocate to the United States. Given the extensive improvements made to the property since its purchase five years ago, I felt it prudent to obtain a new EPC.

The original EPC, dated July 2021 and still available on the public register, rated the property at a Level D (56 points). Since then, I have made significant upgrades. These include an extension with the replacement of an outdated, non-condensing gas boiler with a modern air source heat pump. The extension, along with parts of the existing structure, was fitted with insulated plasterboard in addition to the standard cavity wall insulation. Furthermore, underfloor heating was installed in approximately 50% of the ground floor.

Despite these improvements, I was shocked to receive a “draft” EPC still rating the property at Level D—albeit at 65 points.

The discrepancy becomes even more striking when comparing CO₂ emissions. The original EPC estimated 9 tonnes of CO₂ annually, whereas the new assessment reports just 1.6 tonnes—substantially below the UK average of 6 tonnes noted on the updated certificate. Considering that my home is approximately 2,500 square feet—significantly larger than the average UK home—this reduction in emissions suggests a major improvement in efficiency.

If the goal of EPC assessments is to encourage and reward reductions in carbon emissions, then surely such progress should be reflected more clearly in the rating. I suspect that the revised assessment methodology may have effectively downgraded properties relative to the previous criteria. If so, then homeowners like myself may have undertaken costly upgrades based on government guidance that no longer aligns with the current standards. This raises legitimate questions about the government’s potential liability for issuing advice that may now appear misguided or even misleading.

Additionally, the new assessment penalised the presence of a gas fireplace—even though it is fully disconnected and retained solely for aesthetic purposes.

Frankly, I am both shocked and concerned. I own seven additional buy-to-let properties, and many of my decisions regarding upgrades were based on the prior assessment criteria. If that advice is now considered outdated or inaccurate, what does that mean for property owners trying to act responsibly?

I hope this experience sheds some light on the potential inconsistencies of the new EPC system and sparks further discussion around its implementation and implications for property owners.

Reply to the comment left by Zombiepizzaboy at 23/06/2025 – 10:04
I think a lot of us share your concerns. I suspect that your EPC would have been better if you hadn’t installed the air source heat pump but had installed a modern condensing gas boiler instead, although in truth I don’t really have much information on the revised EPC system.

Reply to the comment left by Zombiepizzaboy at 23/06/2025 – 10:04
For goodness sake, if all the work and investment you have made didn’t change the rating what the heck are we all supposed to do? There won’t be any rental sector, social, council or private at this rate? !!!!