MP raises concern over rent increases from Warm Homes Plan

An MP has asked whether the government will prevent landlords from raising rents under the Warm Homes Plan.

In a written question, Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy asked if the government will stop landlords from increasing rents after using grants and loans from the plan to fund energy efficiency measures.

The government has again insisted that landlords will not need to raise rents to meet EPC C targets by 2030 and that the Renters’ Rights Act will help tenants challenge any excessive increases.

Changes do not require landlords to increase rents

Martin McCluskey, Minister for Energy Consumers, said: “The Warm Homes Plan will lift up to one million households out of fuel poverty through public investment and new minimum energy efficiency standards for private landlords and proposed standard for social landlords. These changes do not require landlords to increase rents. Instead, they will help tenants cut their energy bills by delivering more energy-efficient homes.

“There is support available for landlords, financing options, as well as new protections for renters in the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 to challenge above-market rent increases. As now, landlords will still be able to increase rents to market price for their properties and an independent tribunal will make a judgement on this, if needed.”

He adds: “Landlords will have discretion between meeting the heating system standard and the smart readiness standard so that they can choose what is most appropriate for their property.

“We estimate the new private rented sector minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) could lift approximately 415,000 households out of fuel poverty by 2030. A cost cap of £10,000, compared to £15,000, reduces the risk of cost pass-through to tenants whilst still delivering substantial improvements to homes.”

Landlords could face costly upgrades

However, Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns at Propertymark, warned landlords could face costly upgrades to meet EPC C targets by 2030.

He said: “In the private rented sector, landlords are being asked to deliver, in many cases, substantial and costly upgrades to reach EPC C by 2030, yet this is being imposed without clear, long-term funding commitments, realistic delivery timescales, or sufficient flexibility for older, complex, and hard-to-treat properties.

“A phased and realistic approach would allow landlords to maintain the Decent Homes Standard, manage costs effectively, and contribute meaningfully to the UK Government’s ambition to achieve net zero by 2050.”

Also, as previously reported by Property118, a government consultation on meeting EPC C targets admits landlords may sell up or increase rents due to EPC rules.