MP raises concern over rent increases from Warm Homes Plan

This is a case of ideology meeting reality.

Ms Bell Ribeiro-Addy (who describes herself as Socialist. Feminist. Trade unionist. Equality & anti-cuts activist) has not thought this through. A house where energy efficiency has been improved will almost certainly attract a higher rent than a similar house that has not.

Even if restrictions on increases were put in place, for how long would they last? One year ? Two? Five?

Given that many houses will be upgraded when empty and then re-let, how will the “increased rent” be assessed? The previous tenant might have been paying a below market rent for years. Does a landlord have to advertise an unimproved house at the rent an improved house will command before carrying out the work?

If you want net zero by 2050 and you want to incentivise landlords you need to accept the reality of a free market. Does MS Ribeiro-Addy think that home-owners who receive a grant should not increase the asking price when they sell? If not, why not?

idiot.

There is zero incentive to bother to spend anything if you can’t recoup the cost in a timely manner.

The ‘plan’ to make the outlay a capital expense and not a rental expense means it is better to empty the house of the tenant, get any work done, then sell it asap and put the outlay against CGT. Putting the outlay against a capital expense means it wont be realised for years (depreciating too over the time).

If the banks start lending more favourably if (or only when) a C is achieved, then this will only push the purchase price up. It’s already the case with new builds. The wonderful all singing dancing eco measures to achieve a high EPC rating are costs already baked into the purchase price.

Another clueless Marxist.

Reply to the comment left by Ian Narbeth at 28/01/2026 – 10:53
So what happens when the same retro upgrades are carried out in social provided accommodation? Does she think the rent just stays the same?

There is a reason why the net zero date is 2050. None of the people driving the ideological insanity will be alive to be criticised for an unnecessarily imposed impossibility, which will have bankrupted us, and left us totally dependent on China.

Hopefully, we will soon have a sensible government which will stop all the net zero nonsense.

Try legislating that all bread must contain jam in it but not at any extra cost.
Guess what, soon find there won’t be any bread ( or rental accommodation )
Its not Rocket-science, but perhaps it is for business inexperienced – jobless, career politicians.

Once again MPs totally miss the point.

I’m a small landlord with 7 properties left as I’ve already started selling up, but even with this modest total, I simply cannot afford to pay up to £70k in EPC upgrades?? It’s just mad how these people live in a totally different world from the rest of us.

So I’ve got another on the market just now, and when that goes through yet another unfortunate tenant will be evicted through no fault of their own or mine – it’s just business, and the government have forced this upon me😳

Reply to the comment left by Disillusioned Landlord at 28/01/2026 – 18:44
for my E rated 4/5 bed Victorian properties its going to be a nightmare. Large families in situ and place stuffed with their possessions to the rafters. No chance of anything being done with them in situ (will prob have to go down the IWI route as solid walls).

Ground 6 of S8 will be used to gain vacant possession, work caried out (or maybe not) then sold.

Reply to the comment left by Disillusioned Landlord at 28/01/2026 – 18:44
The same with us. We have sold 4 properties and 3 properties need to be sold within the next 12 months. Last one sold and completed last December. I hope to complete the sale of another one within the next 6 weeks.
And 2 others by end of December 2026.
All are tenanted and will get their S21 by 30th April, before RRB comes into operation. They were all warned last year about it.
Mat Peacock does not think landlords will be selling but he would be proved wrong within 3 years.
There are landlords who may also keep properties empty if they can afford to do so.
After having some cash, we will reduce some mortgages or pay off at least one mortgage due for rate refix towards the end of 2027.
Then try and sell one more, that is actually exempt from EPC upgrade.
So oher properties have either B, C or D. We will move into one of the houses that has EPC D, the other one will be upgraded to C by installig solar panels or heat pump. Everything else is already done, like new boiler, loft insulation of 400mm, thermostats, TVRs, one outside wall insulated, LED lights.

Reply to the comment left by Tiger at 29/01/2026 – 18:20
My first choice to sell will be to the owner occupier as done so far, hence S21 notices by 30th April to my tenants, so they can leave in July 2026.