The Government’s consultation on “Improving the energy performance of privately rented homes” in England and Wales closes at 11.45pm on 8 January 2021. Through this, the Government is seeking views on its proposals for raising the energy performance of privately rented homes under the 2015 PRS Regulations, including the proposed new minimum EPC target level, the maximum investment amount which would be required to try to achieve the new EPC level, the proposed level of fine for non-compliance with the requirements/other ways of ensuring that landlords comply and whether the Government should consider tightening the PRS Regulations further in the future, to help meet the UK’s net zero 2050 target and Carbon Budgets.

The consultation states that the Government “has committed to upgrade as many private rented sector homes as possible to Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Band C by 2030, where practical, cost-effective and affordable… These proposals will bring significant benefits to landlords, tenants and our environment including:

  • reducing energy bills and increased comfort for tenants and supporting delivery of our statutory fuel poverty target of EPC C by 2030
  • potential property value improvements for landlords
  • delivering carbon emission savings over Carbon Budgets 4 and 5, making progress towards our net zero target”.

The consultation is available via: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/946175/prs-consultation-2020.pdf

These proposed changes would affect many of our firm’s clients. We know that many of our Private Clients and those who own farms and Estates, own and rent out a range of heritage properties, many of which are currently not energy efficient and where energy improvements are much harder to achieve than for modern homes. Where those heritage properties are statutorily listed, there will be additional hurdles to overcome before carrying out improvement works.

We would encourage especially landlords, tenants and anyone interested in energy matters to respond to the consultation, so the Government hears the views of those who would be affected by, and would be paying for, these proposed changes.