.png)
Private rental properties currently require a minimum EPC rating of E, but changes have been proposed and debated continued until December 30th 2021 to move the minimum to C or above. The response of these debates is due to come in Spring 2022 and regulations to be released in Autumn 2022.
If passed in the current state, it would require all new domestic tenancies to have a energy efficiency rating of C by the 1st of April 2025 and all domestic tenancies to reach a C level by 1st of April 2028.
EPC was introduced back in 2007 and has become a new tool for the government to reach its Net Zero by 2050 target. Housing is a big piece of that problem with Energy Saving Trust calculating that 21% of total carbon emissions come from homes.
Research by the platform Rightmove revealed that almost 1.7 million homes in England and Wales will not be capable of improving their rating to C rating from their current D and G levels. There are roughly 59% percent of homes that have a current level of D or worse, with a large number of these are capable of reaching their potential rating at C or above.
It is a massive task the government has pushed forward with the regulations not just applying to private properties but also to community housing projects.
The support structure for change is a little uncertain after the failure of the £3 billion pounds green home grant which was cancelled back in April 2021 due to the scheme only reaching 10% of it’s target goal.
There is also the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme tackling the issues of gas boilers, with its deadline also being in 2025.
More information will be released in the new year, but for now it is worth checking your EPC level and the options your properties have to reach a level C rating.
Written by Toby Dawson
