Propertymark has welcomed the UK government’s Warm Homes Plan – which it claims will help homeowners find ways to save money on energy bills and deliver warmer, cleaner to heat homes – but has warned support is not sufficient for the private rented sector.
The Warm Homes Plan includes grants for heat pumps, support for renters and low-income households, and plans on removing the one-meter rule that required planning permission to get a heat pump in England.
The secretary of state for energy security and net zero, Ed Milliband, confirmed to Propertymark in a letter that landlords will be expected to meet EPC C by 2030 as part of the minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES).
However, PRS financial support is limited to qualifying criteria, with only some local authorities eligible. Qualifying criteria includes having a tenant currently living in the property who is in receipt of a means tested benefit or if their household gross annual income is less than £36,000.
If a landlord has a property where the tenant qualifies, they could receive full funding for the first property, capped at £15,000, but would have to contribute 50% of the funding for additional properties. Landlords or their agents would also be expected to sign a declaration saying they will not increase rent due to the funding.
Propertymark has long argued that funding criteria should be streamlined to increase eligibility to all PRS tenancies to level up the playing field with other housing tenures.
With the introduction of the Warm Homes Plan leading to an announcement that the UK government will consult on proposals for landlords to meet EPC by 2030, Propertymark wrote to Miliband and called for clarification on MEES exemptions, including clarity on cost caps and requirements for listed buildings and those on conservation sites.
The professional body has also called for urgent clarity on requirements for non-domestic commercial property. The previous Conservative government said that non-domestic property must meet EPC B by 2030, but in his response, Miliband told Propertymark that the UK government was still considering if this policy was appropriate.
Tim Thomas, policy and campaign officer at Propertymark, said: “The grant funding support for owner occupiers as part of the new Warm Homes Plan is welcome as is the commitment to reduce the burden on requirements for heat pump planning permission.
“While we are pleased to see limited support is on offer to decarbonise private rented properties, similar restrictions proved to limit take up from previous schemes. The UK government must level the playing field and offer parity for private landlords.
“With the clock ticking, the government must also end the uncertainty on PRS exemptions and requirements for commercial landlords.”
