New EPC Proposals – Forest Hill Landlords Can Have Their Say
23rd November 2020 posted in Landlords Tenants
At Hunters Forest Hill, we are fully committed to assisting local landlords. We want you to offer your tenants the very best standard of support and guidance. A major component of providing a great service to tenants is ensuring you, and your rental property, is fully compliant with industry regulations.
We advise all Forest Hill landlords to stay in touch with regulations, and we can help you comply with these matters. We know that EPC and MEES regulations place landlords under pressure, so you should familiarise yourself with proposed changes in this sector.
Be informed about proposed changes to EPC regulations
On September 30th, the Government initiated a consultation process looking for opinions on a range of policy proposals.
They intend to maintain their commitment to upgrading the private rental sector in England and Wales to Band C of the Energy Performance Certificate by 2030.
The Government claims this process will offer huge benefits to tenants, landlords and the environment.
The proposals are as follows:
- All new tenancies from 1 April 2025 and all existing tenancies by 1 April 2028 will have to meet band C or higher on an EPC
- Landlords will be required to have a valid EPC in place at all times while a property is let
- Landlords will be required to install ‘fabric first’ measures e.g. insulation
- Landlords will be encouraged to support the uptake of smart meters
- Tenants will be able to request improvements and redress where a property does not meet the requirements
- Landlords will be required to provide an EPC prior to a property being advertised
Many industry experts have spoken on the proposed changes to the EPC
As you would expect, this is a hot topic in the rental sector. Many leading bodies have released statements about the proposed changes, and if you are looking for guidance on what the proposed changes mean, the following information will hopefully be of benefit.
Meera Chindooroy, the Deputy Director of Policy at The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has called for more financial support for landlords. Meera said; “Whatever the outcome of the consultation – it closes on December 30, so any new laws likely won’t be passed before the end of March next year – the direction of travel is clear. Landlords must accelerate the upgrade of their properties. We have consistently called for further funding to be made available to the sector to encourage landlords to go above and beyond the legal minimum.”
Timothy Douglas is the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA Propertymark) Policy and Campaigns Manager, and he said; “On the face of it these proposals simply do not take into account the state of the UK's housing stock. We all want to see more energy efficient homes, but the new rules and requirements must be realistic and achievable. Landlords and their letting agents are already taking the brunt of tax changes and many are providing support to tenants with Covid-related arrears.”
Timothy concluded by saying; “A simplified [EPC] exemptions regime and additional financial support must be made available otherwise the measures in their current form, will not be achievable and that would mean further reductions in the supply of rented accommodation available.”
At Hunters Forest Hill, we know selling property is challenging, but we are here to assist you in the process. If you aim to buy, sell, let your home or rent property, we are active in New Cross, Peckham, Dulwich and Brockley, in addition to Forest Hill, so get in touch with one of the top three agents in London, and we will be happy to assist you.
