Parliamentary roundtable: Making energy efficiency work for the private rented sector
Following the release of our joint briefing with the Energy Saving Trust our policy and public affairs officer Mia Rotaru looks at the success of our parliamentary roundtable – and what needs to happen next.
Higher energy efficiency standards in the private rented sector are coming. The Government confirmed that privately rented properties in England will be required to meet an EPC C standard by 2030 (or register a valid exemption) meaning many landlords will need to prepare for significant changes in how properties are assessed and the improvements required to comply.
The proposed approach will place greater emphasis on a property's overall fabric performance, alongside requirements relating to heating systems and smart readiness. The Government has also confirmed that the maximum cost landlords can be expected to spend on improvements will increase from the current £3,500 to £10,000, following its consultation on reforms to Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES).
Why did we hold the roundtable?
Given the scale of this challenge, the sector must work together and, to facilitate this, the NRLA partnered with the Energy Saving Trust to host the roundtable in Parliament, chaired by Clive Betts MP, the former chair of the housing, communities and local government committee. The roundtable brought together representatives from the NRLA, the Energy Saving Trust, and ten other organisations working across housing, consumer protection, energy efficiency, finance, and local government.
Practical steps
With the 2030 deadline less than four years away, the discussion focused on the practical steps needed to deliver the transition successfully.
This included the need for greater clarity around how MEES will interact with wider reforms to Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), as well as the future exemption regime, enforcement and financial support.
The discussion also highlighted the importance of considering the realities landlords face when carrying out improvements. Properties vary considerably in age, construction, condition and heating systems, meaning that a one-size-fits-all approach risks creating more challenges.
Successful delivery will also depend on the availability of suitably qualified installers, reliable advice, and appropriate finance, alongside effective local authority capacity to support and enforce the new requirements.
Turning the discussion into recommendations
The roundtable was an important opportunity to move the conversation beyond the policy announcement and towards the practical challenges of implementation.
Following the event, the recommendations emerging from the discussion were brought together into a briefing setting out the steps that stakeholders believe are needed to support a successful transition – something you can read in detail here.
The NRLA has already secured important wins for landlords, reducing the cost cap from £15,000 to £10,000 and increasing recognition of the practical challenges landlords face when renovating older, harder-to-treat properties.
The Government has now set the direction, and the 2030 deadline is approaching. The focus must therefore shift to ensuring landlords have the clarity, support, finance, and practical tools they need to meet the new requirements.
Getting this right will be essential if the UK's energy efficiency ambitions are to translate into meaningful improvements across the private rented sector.
More information
- To access the full report, ‘Supporting the delivery of energy-efficient homes in the private rented sector’ click here.
- To access our MEES hub, where you can find out more about your responsibilities and available funding click here.
- Our award-winning training academy runs an Energy Efficiency and MEES Compliance course. For more information and to book click here.
