Improving rental sector EPCs will require cash

Propertymark wants to see more energy-efficient homes, but with realistic targets and incentives to act.

In its submission to the government ahead of the Budget in mid-March, Propertymark says that without providing landlords and homeowners with incentives and access to sustained funding, it is unlikely that energy efficiency targets for the private rented sector and a reduction in emissions across the property sector will be met.

It insists the government should provide a combination of grants, loans and help with survey costs to incentivise landlords and homeowners.

Propertymark says the greatest need is to decarbonise stock and tackle fuel poverty is in the Private Rented Sector with around two thirds of stock fall below an Energy Performance Certificate rating of C.

It accepts that while the government has already allocated £4 billion of funding for decarbonisation of housing, much of this has been in the social sector and is much less than the £9.2 billion highlighted in the Conservative election manifesto.

It is also a fraction of the government’s estimate that £35 to £65 billion of investment is needed by 2035.

The submission continues: “The government should learn from the lessons of the implementation of the Green Homes Grant and allocate a scheme for landlords and homeowners to make energy efficiency improvements to their properties.

“The Green Homes Grant was designed to improve 600,000 homes from a £1.5 billion budget. However, progress from the scheme was hampered by bureaucracy and difficult to achieve requirements.”

Propertymark wants the government to “set out a plan for energy efficiency improvements that are linked to the recommendations on an EPC. This would provide a clear plan of action for landlords and homeowners, which demonstrate the most suitable route to take.”