Private tenants across England and Wales will benefit from cheaper energy bills and warmer homes as the government accelerates its Plan for Change.
From 2030 all private landlords are going to be required to meet a higher standard of Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) C or equivalent in their properties because the minimum standard for EPCs is due to rise from the current level of EPC E.
Utility bill payers in the Private Rental Sector (PRS) have the highest levels of fuel poverty compared to those living in other housing sectors.
The recently published Government consultation on the future of Energy Performance Certificates provides an opportunity to ensure that new standards in energy efficiency for the private rental market incentivise the right energy efficiency measures (EEMs) for each home.
The Warm Homes Plan is an ambitious strategy to upgrade 5 million homes to cut bills,
wipe out fuel poverty and empower people to control their energy costs with clean
technology like heat pumps, batteries and solar PV
Private renters face the UK’s highest rate of fuel poverty because they often live in in poor housing stock that is not energy efficient.
By raising energy efficiency standards in the domestic PRS and making homes easier to heat, we can drastically reduce fuel poverty and lower carbon emissions from wasted energy.
Under the Pan for Change government will require landlords to make a choice over how to meet energy efficiency standards. Owners of private rental properties will have to meet a fabric standard through installing measures such as loft insulation, cavity wall insulation or double glazing before moving on to a range of other options including batteries, solar panels and smart meters.
