The looming cataclysmic EPC event for the private rented sector

I can’t help but feel the likes of NRLA should be campaigning for all social housing firms and council house providers to fall under the same rules as those being pinned to PRS landlords.

The case can easily be made that if a house needs to be a certain standard to be let out, it shouldn’t matter if it is owned by a council, social housing provider or private landlord.

By levelling this playing field, stakeholders such as councils and social housing providers would have a lot to say about how realistic the proposed EPC targets are. They would argue against unnecessarily wasting capital for political sake. They would also make the case that for some properties in their estates, it simply wouldn’t be viable.

Perhaps I am pipe dreaming, but it makes sense to me.

Reply to the comment left by Dave the Rave at 14/02/2025 – 12:50
of course it makes sense, just the people who make the decisions don’t have any.

My properties are all in Angela Raynet’s constituency and I have just started my sales journey. First rental house on the market this week. I do feel a sense of satisfaction here, but such a shame for the long staying tenant who has had to go.

Why? Solid stone walls cannot be upgraded with tenant in place.
Rent is really low ans so I’ll never recoop my investment. Abd Im 60 now… sell sell sell.

Reply to the comment left by A Reader at 14/02/2025 – 10:30
I know what you mean. How does the NRLA help me? It’s awful and I just delete their emails now, no pony reading them.
You’re right about the councils not maintaining their stock. I’ve heard that in the Portsmouth council housing stock 87% of their properties have EICR older than ten years! They actually stated that their gas engineer has a Quick Look at the electrics when he is there! Are they having a laugh!?

It’s important to understand what the government is saying in its consultation, namely that if you get your property to C under the current system, it’s preferred option is that you will be deemed compliant for the next 10 years, regardless of the fact that the method of assessment will radically change in the second half of 2026.

However, its consultation is open to hearing alternative views and there will be EPC lobby groups, for example, who will strongly argue for existing EPCs to be cut short, since they will gain lots of money from re-doing EPCs.

So, we can’t be sure that the Government’s preferred option will hold good. But it is their preferred option at least. If it turns out that they will allow existing EPCs at C to stand for a full 10 years, I will be locking in and re-doing all my EPCs to buy me compliance until 2036.

Reply to the comment left by Simon Williams at 14/02/2025 – 15:19
Till they change the rules again. Interim period.

Do nothing!
I’m going to wait and see what happens and not worry and certainly not waste my money on anything that might not help my EPCs anyway.
If all landlords do nothing a backtrack will be forced upon the government.
Would any private homeowner spend £15k to save £240 a year?
I suspect not.

Reply to the comment left by caringlandlord at 14/02/2025 – 16:07

Fantastic words, u sum it up shortly & brilliantly.

Would any private homeowner spend £15k to save £240 a year?
I suspect not.

So why should Private f__king Landlords. And why should Private tenants pay through the nose for this.

Reply to the comment left by Simon Williams at 14/02/2025 – 15:19
Change of governments by then as this one term Labour lot will be out by 2029. Thank goodness BUT after they have crashed the PRS economy though!!

For those of us in the game for a long time(like me for nearly 30 years) new investors and landlords won’t understand how destructive these government policies will be. I’ve steadily seen consistent destruction of the PRS and concurrently national debt increasing, taxes rocketing, choice and freedoms (for tenants and landlords) diminishing and the creeping infestation of socialism.
This is very bad news long term.
There is no point trying to compromise, appease or have a ‘balanced’ approach. How I hate that word!
One day new landlords will wake up and smell the coffee and realise that all their dreams that once were superbly described by Robert Kiyosaki in Rich Dad Poor Dad are now encapsulated in an updated edition called : ‘Rich Taxtaker, Poor Taxpayer’. The government vs the private sector.
Make no mistake, regulations are just masked taxation. Don’t fall for ‘being reasonable’ or ‘making adjustments’.
Because one day you’ll realise that all you are is a government piggy bank.
Landlords are leaving the sector BY THEIR DROVES and this is what the Labour government wants. They want to control and run housing without you or I.
In the long run you’ll be part of the WEF dream to ‘own nothing and be happy about it’.
We MUST stand up to what’s going on!! Not just for us but for the people who rely on the accommodation we provide!
Many of them don’t understand the economic factors at work and think that ‘rebalancing’ the relationship between landlord and tenant is what’s needed. What’s actually needed is for tenants and landlords to come to their own agreements and not to be dictated to by the state about how either of them should agree their contracts.
It’s disempowering not empowering.
It adds huge expense and adds no value.
It will increase costs and reduce choice rather than reducing costs and improving choice.
This is not the ravings of a mad woman after a tough week needing a glass of wine ?
This is the call to action of a highly focused and driven individual who sees the industry she has worked in being decimated in front of her very eyes.
And all the while I see Neros looking on as Rome burns.
I’m sorry if you think I’m being melodramatic but I think you should know how vital the PRS is to the people, the economy and the health of the UK. It contributes massively to GDP, it pays huge amounts of tax that pay for the public sector to exist. It provides roofs over peoples heads and gives people homes. And above all, it’s often run by people like you and me – ordinary citizens who wanted to make a difference to their personal financial situation and perhaps also to benefit others.
This is no longer a call for appeasement. This is no longer a call for discussion or consultation. The only ONLY way forward now is PROTEST and ACTION.