HMO landlords brace for chaos as EPC rules could tighten
1 year ago | 3 comments
The government and councils moving the goalposts cause homelessness
by Mick Roberts
12:04 AM, 26th February 2025, 1 year ago
23
News that BMW is to delay building the new electric Mini in Oxford over ‘uncertainty’ should not come as a surprise.
I see nothing here different to what the government, the Labour Party, the Conservative Party and Nottingham City Council and other councils are doing to landlords.
BMW Mini says “given the multiple uncertainties facing the automotive industry” means that governments and councils are constantly changing the goal posts.
How can you have a 2035 date to stop making petrol cars for Labour to get in and change that date to 2030? These are big car plants which have lots of workers in them.
They need to plan effectively and need to know what the government is planning to do.
It’s worse for landlords
For landlords, it’s worse as it’s done retrospectively after the tenant has already moved in, got settled, got her house how she wants it.
The landlady is charging her cheaper rent than normal.
Then the government changes the rules.
How can you have a good, non-draughty house with an EPC D rating, new boiler, doors, windows and kitchen for Ed Miliband to come in and say, “You’ve got to rip your house apart, take that kitchen out, destroy the tenant’s decoration, make her walls thinner and she’ll have to buy a new settee too.”
Her rent will increase by £200pm, but she will have an EPC C rating, and she will save £20pm on her gas bill.
Changing the EPC formula soon
And then he says, “Ooh, and we are changing the EPC formula soon too, so the above may not last – but we will let the EPC run for 10 years before you’ll have to rip the tenant’s house apart again.”
Ed, do you only plan ahead for five or 10 years? My tenants, some of ’em have been in the same house for 40 years and with me 26 years – and five years is nothing.
Same as you George Osborne with your Section 24 and telling landlords, “Ooh, you’ve got six years to plan for this”.
Do you think six years is a long time in a private tenant’s life? Is their life worthless after that?
You all are proper disgusting and you governments and councils are the biggest cause of homelessness in the UK.
All you have to do is make a plan, stick to it and help tenants and landlords enjoy their homes.
Read the Mini story on the BBC News website.
Tags:
2030, BMW electric Mini delay, Ed Miliband housing policy, electric car production, EPC rating changes UK, landlord tenant issues UK, Section 24 landlords, UK government policy changes, UK homelessness
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Member Since December 2023 - Comments: 1582
10:01 AM, 26th February 2025, About 1 year ago
All politicians plan for 5 years. Every policy is designed with votes in mind.
Democracy doesn’t work.
Member Since September 2024 - Comments: 95
10:15 AM, 26th February 2025, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by Cider Drinker at 26/02/2025 – 10:01
I think they plan for 6.
Most of these measures come in after the next election, so most of us will simply think “perhaps the next government will scrap or relax the rules, so there isn’t any point worrying about them.”
That’s my policy, unless the government stumps up enough cash to do the work for me under the ‘warmer homes’ scheme (or whatever it’s called today)
Member Since November 2024 - Comments: 81
10:30 AM, 26th February 2025, About 1 year ago
Totally agree – thank-you Mick Roberts for your brilliant and too the point article. Governments and councils seem to be totally irresponsible, ignorant and reckless with no regard to the money they have through our taxes or to the people they pretend to serve. Disregard to evidenced based information if it does not fit in with their agenda. More galling is that our hard earned money pay for them through taxes.
Member Since May 2017 - Comments: 765
10:30 AM, 26th February 2025, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by Cider Drinker at 26/02/2025 – 10:01
Compare our system to the Chinese, who plan many years ahead. It couldn’t be more different
Member Since October 2013 - Comments: 1642 - Articles: 3
10:56 AM, 26th February 2025, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by JB at 26/02/2025 – 10:30
The Chinese may play the long game, but when they need a road, power plant, railway… they deliver in a flash.
Member Since May 2015 - Comments: 2197 - Articles: 2
11:13 AM, 26th February 2025, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by Cider Drinker at 26/02/2025 – 10:01
Democracy could be improved by electing one fifth of the MPs every year in rotation, this may encourage long term and more moderate thinking.
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 3248 - Articles: 81
11:55 AM, 26th February 2025, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by Cider Drinker at 26/02/2025 – 10:01
Yes disgusting how tenants end up worse off, after the things they vote for.
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 3248 - Articles: 81
11:56 AM, 26th February 2025, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by A Reader at 26/02/2025 – 10:30
Thanks, yes not edited & softened up.
Member Since January 2022 - Comments: 267
12:33 PM, 26th February 2025, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by Mick Roberts at 26/02/2025 – 11:56
Would proportional representation be better in uk?
It would probably prevent the landslide victory we had last July.
The current government with such a large majority can make so many changes ( as they have already done) without thinking through all the pros and cons. It would seem.
But would PR actually work in uk?
Member Since February 2022 - Comments: 203
12:42 PM, 26th February 2025, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by JeggNegg at 26/02/2025 – 12:33
PR in theory sounds fair but in reality it’s massively unstable and doesn’t work. PR is like suggesting rent controls!