Sadiq Khan wants EPC measures for the PRS reinstated

Sadiq Khan wants EPC measures for the PRS reinstated

9:56 AM, 5th December 2023, About 5 months ago 24

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The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, is calling for the legal power to impose a rent freeze in the capital AND reinstate the minimum EPC requirement for rented homes.

He says that London’s renters could be paying more for their energy bills for years to come after the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ditched the need for landlords to offer homes with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of at least C.

Now City Hall has analysed the English Housing Survey and found 494,000 private rental properties in London have an EPC rating of band D or below.

The analysis also used national data on energy consumption and current prices, revealing that London’s rented homes rated D or lower will cost £337 a year extra to heat, compared to homes rated C or above.

Situation for many renters in London is bleak

Mr Khan said: “The situation for many renters in London and across the country is increasingly bleak, with rents soaring and other costs increasing.

“A key thing ministers could have done is help renters with energy efficiency.

“Scrapping plans for tougher standards is frankly shameful, and will just lead to even higher bills.”

He added: “Actively deciding to condemn thousands of renters to draughty, inefficient, expensive homes is letting down renters, and this is on top of delays to banning so-called ‘no fault evictions’.

“Ministers should give cities like London the powers to freeze rents, but also urgently reinstate plans to ensure every renter lives in an energy efficient home.”

EPC U-turn is an unwelcome expense

Mr Khan also warns that the EPC U-turn is an unwelcome expense for many private tenants facing increasing rents in the cost-of-living crisis.

He says he is particularly concerned about the negative impacts that a hike in energy bills would have on low-income and vulnerable Londoners, including the elderly.

The mayor points to recent research from the Social Market Foundation found private renters in England and Wales are on track to waste £1.1bn (£220 per household) on energy that leaks out of their walls and windows.

Plans to raise minimum energy efficiency standards

Generation Rent’s chief executive, Ben Twomey, said: “The Prime Minister’s cancellation of plans to raise minimum energy efficiency standards means that landlords now have no obligation to agree to any insulation works, even if they are funded by government grants.

“This reckless political choice is leaving more tenants suffering in cold and draughty homes that are damaging our health and draining our wallets.

“Tenants in draughty homes currently pay hundreds of pounds more per year than they would if their home was insulated properly.

“Our research shows that three in 10 renters are discouraged from applying for grants because of the expectation that their landlord will refuse them.”

He adds: “With rents through the roof and private tenants facing this premium on our energy bills, we share the mayor of London’s call for the Government to stand by its old promises and deliver energy efficient homes for renters.”


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Comments

GlanACC

10:28 AM, 5th December 2023, About 5 months ago

so, Apart from the rent freeze killing the rental market, with 494,000 properties at band D or below, where on earth are you going to get the tradesmen needed to perform this task.

Reluctant Landlord

10:44 AM, 5th December 2023, About 5 months ago

Generation Rent’s chief executive, Ben Twomey, said: “The Prime Minister’s cancellation of plans to raise minimum energy efficiency standards means that landlords now have no obligation to agree to any insulation works, even if they are funded by government grants.

1. Rarely do the government grants cover all the work involved.
2. ANY work has to be proven that it will be actually appropriate for the property.
3. The tenant does not own the property so yes the LL can refuse!

Stella

10:55 AM, 5th December 2023, About 5 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 05/12/2023 - 10:44
They live in cloud cuckoo land!

Yellard

11:14 AM, 5th December 2023, About 5 months ago

I let my property when interest rates were at a historic low. Now I am making a loss when it comes to increased mortgage costs and there is a coming large bill for exterior maintenance.
I have accepted the situation and "bit the bullet" but am planning (a below inflation) increase next year. However, Kahn now wants to drive me to bankruptcy..

Dylan Morris

11:17 AM, 5th December 2023, About 5 months ago

Unless it’s a bit of loft insulation some properties will need major works. Where are the tenants going to live if they can’t stay in the property whilst work is carried out ? and how is landlord supposed to pay for the mortgage, council tax, utilities, ground rent and service charges if a flat, etc if there’s no rent coming in ?
And when Section 21 disappears there will be substantial court fees to pay, not to mention huge delays. There may even be bailiff fees on top, actually very likely as the supply of alternative rented accommodation will hardly exist. New schools for the kids if tenants have to move area. None of this has been thought through.

Dylan Morris

11:25 AM, 5th December 2023, About 5 months ago

And why doesn’t Khan want this to apply to council properties ?

Alexandra

11:47 AM, 5th December 2023, About 5 months ago

I am not a London Landlord so my knowledge of that market is zero but if they think they have a lack of affordable housing now surely these policies will cause a huge number of landlords to just up and leave. They must know this but just dont care.

JeggNegg

13:03 PM, 5th December 2023, About 5 months ago

yet another one sided thought process, political vote catching comment!
i wonder how much was paid to carry out this survey of 494,000 PRS properties.
mr khan, if all these properties were brought up to a minimum 'C' EPC, are you expecting the Land lord to keep the monthly rent t same amount?
i would suggest there would be a rent increase which might be more than the additional energy figure of £337. i would like to ask Mr khan where all these tenants can be re housed to enable this repair work to be completed, as it will be an unsafe space?

Trapped Landlord

13:39 PM, 5th December 2023, About 5 months ago

Are there any anti landlord measures Khan is not in favour of ?

Stella

14:20 PM, 5th December 2023, About 5 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Trapped Landlord at 05/12/2023 - 13:39
The politics of envy, they think that it is easy money just plucked from the trees.
They choose to ignore the hard work, debt, overheads complience, maintenance, social work etc. that is required
It is like an obsessive compulsive disorder for Mr Khan and this renders him incapabable of seeing the real picture.

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