NRLA calls for more funding to boost Boiler Upgrade Scheme for landlords

The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) is calling for extra funding to help landlords install heat pumps.

Responding to the government consultation on the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, the NRLA says landlords need long-term support and funding to meet energy-efficiency targets.

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) offers financial grants to landlords and homeowners to replace gas boilers with heat pumps and biomass boilers.

Proposals to improve the way the scheme works

The scheme is set to run until 2027, and the government have suggested proposals to improve the way the scheme works.

One suggested change is to allow homeowners to install heat pumps funded by the scheme alongside other low-carbon technologies at the same time.

This means homeowners could combine different eco-friendly systems, such as solar panels, with heat pumps and still receive financial support.

Other proposals include adding support for systems not currently included in the scheme, such as air-to-air heat pumps and heat batteries, and enabling property owners to use third-party financing options to help cover upfront installation costs.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has proposed all private rented properties need to meet EPC C targets by 2030 and 2028 for new tenancies.

Alongside this, the UK is legally committed to reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, meaning emissions must be reduced as close to zero as possible.

Make it easier for landlords to meet energy-efficiency targets

The NRLA welcomes the government’s proposal to expand the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to include air-to-air heat pumps, describing it as a cost-effective option, especially where solar panels or ground source heat pumps may not be suitable.

However, the NRLA warns the government must go further to make it easier for landlords to meet energy-efficiency targets.

The NRLA says the Boiler Upgrade Scheme should be aligned with other initiatives, such as the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) and the Warm Homes Local Authority Grant, as otherwise, it risks landlords not investing in the scheme at all.

The NRLA is also calling on the government to increase funding for landlords and commit to at least five years of support, allowing landlords to plan energy upgrades during tenancy gaps without disrupting tenants.

The organisation also warns the government that the Boiler Upgrade Scheme will only succeed if the workforce is expanded to meet installation demand.

While the government has previously announced plans to train thousands of retrofit workers, the NRLA warns that, even with this, it may still be impossible to meet energy efficiency targets.