The UK Government must publish a clear implementation roadmap for energy efficiency reform if it wants landlords, tenants and councils to prepare in time for new standards, a joint briefing published by the National Residential Landlords Association and Energy Saving Trust has warned.
The briefing follows a parliamentary roundtable chaired by Clive Betts MP, the former long-standing Housing Select Committee chair, which brought together twelve organisations working across housing, consumer protection, energy efficiency, finance and local government.
Participants broadly welcomed the direction provided by the government's Warm Homes Plan and its revised approach to Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) in the private rented sector.
However, the briefing warns that with the 2030 deadline now four years away, ambition alone will not deliver warmer homes, lower bills or improved living conditions for tenants. A clear plan is needed to set out how MEES will sit alongside forthcoming reforms to Energy Performance Certificates, property exemptions, enforcement and financial support.
One specific concern raised is the risk of landlords delaying investment until close to the deadline. The briefing warns that this could heap additional pressure on installers, supply chains and enforcement bodies in the latter part of the decade.
The briefing identifies five areas requiring action alongside a clear roadmap:
- Installer and skills capacity: The government must give businesses sufficient certainty over future demand to invest in training and apprenticeships, supported by stronger quality assurance for retrofit work.
- Accessible landlord finance: Government must work with lenders to support early investment and ensure publicly funded improvements deliver fair outcomes for tenants.
- Clear and trusted advice: The planned Warm Homes Agency should act as a consistent national source of impartial information for both landlords and tenants, working in partnership with existing advice services.
- Stronger enforcement and consumer protection: Simpler complaints and redress routes are needed, with local authorities properly resourced to enforce standards effectively.
- Tenant engagement and protection: This includes clear communication and tailored support for older and disabled tenants and households at risk of fuel poverty.
"Landlords want to provide homes that are warmer, cheaper to heat and fit for the future," said Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association.
"Whilst the changes announced by the Government earlier this year have made the proposed framework more workable, the focus now needs to be on making sure it can actually be delivered.
"2030 may sound some way off, but upgrading homes on the scale now needed requires landlords, installers, lenders, local authorities and tenants to start preparing now.
"That means providing urgent certainty about what will be required, ensuring the tradespeople and finance that landlords will need are available to carry out the work. Likewise, giving landlords and tenants access to much clearer and reliable advice is essential.
"The sector supports the Government's ambition. We stand ready to work with ministers to ensure the practical framework is in place to turn it into reality."
Stew Horne, group head of sector intelligence and external affairs at Energy Saving Trust, said, "New energy efficiency standards for the private rented sector are an important step towards upgrading privately rented homes to make them warmer and more efficient for renters.
"To ensure successful delivery of these standards, it is essential that the right support is in place for both landlords and tenants. Access to green finance products, such as low-cost loans, will support landlords to invest in their properties, alongside tailored, in-depth advice to help them navigate the requirements and identify suitable measures.
"Tenants should also have access to the guidance and support they need to operate low carbon technologies once installed."
Betts, who chaired the roundtable, added, "Improving the energy efficiency of the rental housing stock is a vital part of the Government's mission to address cost-of-living pressures and improve conditions across the sector.
"Ministers now need to turn welcome ambitions into reality on the ground. The proposals being published today would achieve that, and I urge the Government to take the recommendations seriously."
