Energy efficiency: Funding call for landlords
Citizens Advice has added its voice to calls for a funding package for landlords carrying out energy efficiency improvements to their properties.
The news comes as the Government pledged to ‘consider’ costs for private and social landlords when consulting on minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES).
The proposed consultation on plans to introduce a minimum EPC rating of C in rented homes by 2030 is expected to be launched by the Government by the end of the year.
Citizens Advice – a network of charities offering independent advice – has published its own report ahead of the process on preparing private rented sector landlords for the changes up ahead.
Key recommendations in the paper include calls for the Government to:
- Explore practical support options to help landlords deal with the cost of making upgrades. These could include green finance options such as low-interest loans or making energy efficiency improvements deductible against income tax.
- Back up plans with enforcement action where landlords don’t meet required standards.
- Provide a clear and tailored communications strategy to inform landlords about the MEES policy and the support available and act quickly to legislate for changes with a clear timeline including interim deadlines for new tenancies to meet standards.
Bournemouth East MP Tom Hayes has tabled a number of questions on the energy efficiency of private rented housing, including questions on the merits of providing support for landlords with increasing the energy efficiency of properties that are difficult to retrofit.
The Minister for Energy Efficiency, Miatta Fahnbulleh said landlords can use the gov.uk website to find out about existing schemes, the Home Upgrade Grant and the Great British Insulation Scheme, and said the consultation will include firm proposals on maximum spend required from landlords and the exemptions regime to manage the cost burden - including those who own properties that are difficult to retrofit.
She also confirmed ‘the Government will work closely with both the private and socially rented sectors during the consultations and will consider potential costs for private landlords and social housing providers in our assessment of options for the minimum energy efficiency standards’, with a legislative timetable to be set out ‘in due course’.
When asked about proposed changes to the way EPC ratings are calculated, the minister said responses to the previous administration’s consultation on the proposed Home Energy Model were being considered, with a response to be published in a few months.
The NRLA – while welcoming the investment the government is making in offering grants for improvements to low-income households – is calling for more funding across the board to help landlords meet the proposed new standards.
More information
- The Government currently offers several schemes to support landlords and tenants in improving energy efficiency, including VAT relief on Energy-Saving Materials (ESMs), the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) and the Home Upgrade Grant (HUG). Keep an eye out in next week’s enews for an exploration of the range of grants on offer.
- Need an EPC? Why not organise it via NRLA compliance arm, Safe2. Part of the NRLA family, Safe2 is a digital platform providing of all forms of property safety certification. A one-stop-shop for all things compliance, it sends alerts when documents are due to expire, organises inspections and repairs and issues certificates. All NRLA members are entitled to exclusive discounts when using any of Safe2’s services. Visit nrla.org.uk/safe2
