Government’s EPC targets for landlords are ‘unrealistic’ – NRLA
10 months ago | 18 comments
Tenant group claims landlords can easily afford EPC upgrades
12:01 AM, 13th June 2025, 10 months ago
82
Categories:
Generation Rent claims the majority of landlords CAN afford energy-efficiency upgrades because they are mortgage-free.
Despite the tenant group’s claim, as previously reported on Property118, energy-efficiency upgrades are hugely expensive and cost thousands of pounds, which are often then passed down onto tenants.
The tenant group welcomes the government’s commitment to improving energy-efficiency standards in the private rented sector and the announcement of the £13.2 billion funding for the Warm Homes Plan, which aims to support energy efficiency upgrades to homes.
Majority of landlords are mortgage-free, meaning they can easily afford the investment
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has proposed that all private rented properties must meet EPC C targets by 2030, and by 2028 for new tenancies.
In a government consultation on the proposed EPC targets, it was suggested that the maximum required investment for private rented properties to meet minimum energy efficiency standards be raised to £15,000 before landlords can register for an exemption.
However, an industry body warns that this cost cap would push landlords to leave the market.
Despite this, Generation Rent claim landlords can afford the investment.
Dan Wilson, deputy chief executive of Generation Rent, said on X, formerly Twitter: “Everyone needs a good quality, affordable home. It’s the foundation of our lives. But millions of renters are living in cold homes with shocking levels of mould and damp, while they’re most likely to experience fuel poverty. These issues ripple across lives, hugely impacting renters’ mental and physical health.
“Over half of private rented homes in England fall below EPC C, and few landlords will make improvements if they don’t have to. Our analysis shows the majority of landlords are mortgage-free, meaning they can easily afford the investment needed.”
Lower bills won’t be cancelled out by higher rents
Mr Wilson adds: “It’s right the government is intervening to lift renters out of fuel poverty and reduce carbon emissions. The can has already been kicked down the road, which has been bad for renters and the environment.
“To speed things along, grants are available for landlords to make improvements, but tenants need assurance that lower bills won’t just be cancelled out by higher rents – so we need limits on how much landlords can raise the rent. This simple solution would mean renters are able to enjoy warmer homes and lower bills.”
Despite Mr Miliband’s assurances that EPC upgrades will not lead to higher rents, a government minister previously admitted that landlords can raise rents to cover the cost.
Tags:
energy efficiency funding, energy efficiency upgrades, EPC C targets, generation rent, landlord rent increases, mortgage-free landlords, Private Rented Sector, Warm Homes Plan
Comments
Have Your Say
Every day, landlords who want to influence policy and share real-world experience add their voice here. Your perspective helps keep the debate balanced.
Not a member yet? Join In Seconds
Login with
or
Related Articles
iHowz calls on government for clearer guidance as biggest EPC changes in decades come into force
10 months ago | 10 comments
Government to train thousands of retrofit workers but EPC C targets may be ‘impossible’
11 months ago | 7 comments
Member Since May 2015 - Comments: 2188 - Articles: 2
3:45 PM, 25th June 2025, About 10 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Beaver at 25/06/2025 – 15:41
Please, Clare let me into the secret, I will give up my landlording from which I get £20,000 before tax if I am lucky and claim benefits.
Member Since May 2018 - Comments: 1999
3:50 PM, 25th June 2025, About 10 months ago
Reply to the comment left by TheMaluka at 25/06/2025 – 15:45
It’s certainly an odd one this. If you are a small portfolio landlord with one property and your income exceeds £50K then you lose the tax credit allowing you to offset finance costs against income.
However does a means-tested benefits tenant get £50,000 in benefits?
Member Since April 2025 - Comments: 2
3:50 PM, 25th June 2025, About 10 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Beaver at 25/06/2025 – 15:41
Unfortunately yes, we have seen benefits income in the region of £35,000 to £50,000 becoming a more common occurrence and we are starting to wonder what is the point of working! And that, is the issue isnt it!
Member Since May 2018 - Comments: 1999
3:51 PM, 25th June 2025, About 10 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Clare Sheffield at 25/06/2025 – 15:50
Wow…so what benefits are these that amount to £50,000?
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 3237 - Articles: 81
6:38 PM, 25th June 2025, About 10 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Beaver at 25/06/2025 – 15:41I’ve got loads of Benefit tenants getting 30 40 50k a year in their hand. That’s including the PIP’s and DLA’s though, which they do need for car and travel etc. to get disabled kids about.
And when getting the extra benefits, they exempt from the cruel Benefit cap.
Although it is annoying when some of say they skint on that much money before they get out of bed.
Ooh and that is when they got several kids, I’ve had a few with 10 kids in 3 bed house
Member Since May 2018 - Comments: 1999
12:02 PM, 26th June 2025, About 10 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Mick Roberts at 25/06/2025 – 18:38
Wow again…I had no idea. I stopped taking benefits tenants years ago when I found out that if the tenant isn’t eligible for any of the benefits then the council can come back and get the money off me.
The government already increased my risk by telling me that if my gross (not net after tax) income goes over £50K then they are going to drop a tax bomb on me for investing in something that puts a roof over somebody’s head. I could invest in dropping smart bombs on Palestine or Iran without any penalty though…although I’m not presently doing that or actively considering it.
I have absolutely no idea whatsoever about entitlement to benefits so taking benefits tenants would be way too risky, especially given the amounts they receive. I have no understanding of the system and it’s completely beyond my understanding. Way too risky to consider, now or for the future.
But I do understand that if I signed up to the Serco contract to house asylum seekers somebody would commit to paying me without coming back and getting the money off me. And I suspect that the asylum seekers would be grateful to not be in a tent anymore and be receiving some help that they weren’t necessarily ‘entitled’ to.
Member Since May 2015 - Comments: 2188 - Articles: 2
12:43 PM, 26th June 2025, About 10 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Beaver at 26/06/2025 – 12:02
Beware the ides of Serco.
Member Since May 2018 - Comments: 1999
12:52 PM, 26th June 2025, About 10 months ago
Reply to the comment left by TheMaluka at 26/06/2025 – 12:43
Beware the ides of benefits tenants earning £50K per annum that somebody can come back and get off you as the landlord without you having any idea of their ‘entitlements’. There’s a big trap for the uninformed (like me) and the unwary.
A quick google search tells me that Serco has a foundation that allows people to supply for support for something or other.
https://www.sercofoundation.org/apply-support
Serco also links from that to something to do with sustainability.
https://www.serco.com/our-impact
Does anybody know whether if you enter into a contract with Serco to house asylum seekers, Serco would be able to apply for a grant to improve an EPC from band D to something upwards?
If they were housing asylum seekers they might find it easier to satisfy the criteria for a grant than a benefits tenant earning £35-£50K per annum. And they seem to have an interest in sustainability.
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 3237 - Articles: 81
3:03 PM, 26th June 2025, About 10 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Beaver at 26/06/2025 – 12:02
Don’t sign up to benefit tenants now, it’s getting harder.
Member Since May 2018 - Comments: 1999
4:19 PM, 26th June 2025, About 10 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Mick Roberts at 26/06/2025 – 15:03
And it’s not socially useful because a lot of them appear to be better off than many landlords.