Property Matters

On Tuesday at 1pm, Property Matters turns its attention to the growing unease around Energy Performance Certificate changes. Recent headlines and surveys show a sector feeling the strain. Even the news that Rachel Reeves faces thousands in upgrade costs on her own rental property highlights how widespread the challenge has become.

Many landlords have known for some time that tougher EPC rules were expected. The government wants all rental homes in England and Wales to reach at least a C rating within the lifetime of this Parliament. Although the reform of the EPC itself, which was due to arrive around 2026, appears no closer today than when it was first promised.

That uncertainty is creating real concern. The EPC system is long overdue for an update, yet landlords still have no clear guidance on what improvements the future model will actually reward. Despite talk of shifting toward heat retention and fabric performance, nothing has been finalised, published or explained. The result is a growing sense that landlords are being asked to hit targets without a reliable tool to assess what they need to do.

This becomes even more difficult for older homes. Insulation upgrades, heating changes, ventilation adjustments and window replacements all come with significant costs. It would be interesting to know how many landlords have tried to plan sensibly, only to find that the EPC recommendations remain generic and often too broad to be truly helpful. Until the new methodology is confirmed, the practical path to a C rating remains uncertain.

Commercial landlords are experiencing similar anxieties. Reports suggest that a large proportion of commercial buildings may fall short of future EPC expectations, especially once leased properties are required to meet a minimum C rating later in the decade. Owners of older stock may soon face difficult choices about refurbishment or repurposing, and the financial sums do not always stack up in regional markets already under pressure.

All of this is unfolding against a backdrop of rising mortgage costs and continued regulatory change. Stock shortages persist in many parts of the country. When EPC upgrades are added to the list, the sense of being squeezed from several directions becomes clear. Warmer homes and lower energy bills are goals most agree with, yet the route to achieving them feels increasingly unclear.

The wider issue is that landlords are being encouraged to invest now, although the EPC model that will ultimately judge their properties has not yet been delivered. Reform is often referenced, yet nothing concrete has emerged. No detailed timeline. No draft methodology. No practical guidance. Until that information appears, landlords cannot confidently assess what improvements are necessary or cost-effective.

This lack of clarity is driving many to hesitate, and some to consider exiting the sector entirely. The risk is that, without clearer planning tools and stable guidance, the rental market may feel the impact long before any improvement in energy efficiency is realised.

This week on Property Matters we will look at what sits behind this uncertainty and how the EPC shake-up may affect both landlords and tenants. It is a shifting landscape, and one that deserves much clearer direction as the 2030 deadline approaches.

Watch live or catch up later on our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@SpillingTheProper-Tea

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For podcast/media info: gareth@mphats.com