Landlord concerns over energy efficiency are greater than those over the Renters' Rights Bill

New research by the NRLA has found many landlords are more worried about changes to the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard requirements than they are about the impending Renters’ Rights Bill. 

Research conducted for the NRLA’s new quarterly publication Landlord Eye, found growing concern among landlords about the shape of future Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) rules and the associated implications. 

The Government is currently consulting on its controversial plans to require an EPC rating of C for all rental homes by 2030. The plan will affect around 2.5 million rental homes, with a cost implication of up to £15,000 per home.

The research was undertaken before the consultation was unveiled, which further underlines landlord concerns on the topic. 

Survey with a difference

Landlord Eye takes a different approach from other research surveys – it has a stronger emphasis on the detailed views of our members on individual issues, rather than rely solely on “box ticking”. This ensures landlords’ voices can be heard on topics such as government policy and legislation.

The NRLA collects, anonymises, and analyses these views using a specialised AI tool:

• Among landlords, the Renters' Rights Bill attracts the largest volume of negative comments.
• It is however energy efficiency – the cost and complexity of meeting any new energy standards – which drew many of the most negative comments from landlords.

The NRLA anticipate that with government consultation now underway, landlord concern and anxiety over necessary investment levels will continue to rise. 

Testing

“The Renters’ Rights Bill represents the biggest shake-up in the private rented sector for 30 years,” said Chris Norris, campaigns and policy director at the NRLA.

“On top of that, landlords are now being asked to pay £15,000 to get their property ready for the new MEES regulations.”

“Given all the changes that are being proposed, it is only fair the Government gives landlords and the wider sector enough time to prepare.”

More detail on the insights on EPC and related issues have been published by our research team.

More information

• Find out how you can prepare for the Renters' Rights Bill and the latest on the Government's energy efficiency proposals.
• We also offer training courses on the Renters' Rights Bill and on retrofitting your properties for energy efficiency and renewables.