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 June 2019 - Comments: 781
12:58 PM, 26th February 2025, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by Jason at 26/02/2025 – 12:42
Still has to be better than the ego centric model we follow at present, we might be able to elect people to do something other than the party dogma.
Member Since December 2023 - Comments: 1582
1:25 PM, 26th February 2025, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by Jason at 26/02/2025 – 12:42
I’d prefer an American style option.
Vote for a president who doesn’t need to be a politician but could be a champion of industry. Vote for MOs to represent us in the HoC. Scrap the HoL.
Member Since September 2015 - Comments: 1013
4:08 PM, 26th February 2025, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by JeggNegg at 26/02/2025 – 12:33
Look at what’s happening in Germany now. It’ll end up with minority parties being king makers i.e. tail wagging the dog, and second most popular party (AfD) being shut out and its supporters not represented.
Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3527 - Articles: 5
9:55 AM, 27th February 2025, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by JB at 26/02/2025 – 10:30because they already know who is going to be in power regardless of any election…
The mantra is dictate, force compliance and expand as fast as possible.
Our system is lie, promise, spend and leave the crisis to the next guy…
Member Since October 2013 - Comments: 1642 - Articles: 3
11:16 AM, 27th February 2025, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by Gromit at 26/02/2025 – 16:08
The German government will be hamstrung, as usually happens with PR when there is no clear majority. The AfD will never govern unless/until it gets an overall majority. We saw the same thing in France, and will see the same with Reform UK.
Trump may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but he will make things happen, and they are likely to be more in line with what the majority in Europe/UK believe in, but are not allowed to have.
Member Since December 2024 - Comments: 3
12:48 PM, 27th February 2025, About 1 year ago
It appears that this country and its government are determined to get rid of landlords with a small number of properties. The governments are always pro large corporation landlords by using the toxic sentiment of many disgruntled tenants. It is hard to say otherwise.
Member Since October 2013 - Comments: 1642 - Articles: 3
1:49 PM, 27th February 2025, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by Peter Lee at 27/02/2025 – 12:48
Tenants will still be disgruntled with large corporate landlords, but will find it much harder to get anything done in a timely manner.
They reap what they sow!
Personally, I’m putting my money with BTR, and sod worrying about BTL.
Member Since February 2025 - Comments: 1
9:05 AM, 28th February 2025, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by Cider Drinker at 26/02/2025 – 10:01
I’d rather live in a democracy than any of the alternatives!
Member Since August 2021 - Comments: 307 - Articles: 1
12:27 PM, 1st March 2025, About 1 year ago
Well said Mick.
Your campaigning for tenants and PRS landlords is an example to us all.
You’re the PRS Zelensky of Nottingham, and certainly have the minerals.
iHowz questioned why the BBC, in a piece on rural homelessness, had a comment about the PRS wanting references but failed to mention local authorities have a specific responsibility under the Homelessness Act.
I hope you have followed this week’s debate on the need for others in the PRS to come together to bring a more robust response to the corrosive attacks on the PRS.
https://www.property118.com/prs-landlords-under-siege-misrepresented-and-unheard/#comments
https://www.property118.com/landlord-group-calls-for-a-new-national-representative-organisation/#comments
Member Since November 2019 - Comments: 154
12:30 PM, 1st March 2025, About 1 year ago
Good article, Mick yes the Rules Constantly Change for usually no good sensible reason.
And they are happy to load as many Rules ,Regulations and Costs and taxation they can think off on the Private Landlords and Tenants .
Another example is Electric Consumer units , take out all the metal ones , change to plastic, now change back to metal.