Landlords will be prevented from renting out homes with EPC rating less than ‘C’ from 2030

Ed Miliband tells Labour Conference he is going to prevent landlords from renting out 'cold and draughty' homes.

The Energy and Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband has announced that landlords will be prevented from renting out homes that are under an EPC rating of ‘C’ from 2030.

Miliband used his Labour Party Conference speech to launch an attack on landlords who rent sub-standard homes, and warned of 'getting tough' and going ‘much further’.

Announcing the measure to Labour supporters, he said: “Many of the poorest in our country live in cold, drafty homes and many are rented from private landlords below decent standards.

“I say this is a Tory legacy, a Tory scandal, a Tory outrage… this Labour Government will not tolerate it. We will end this injustice with decent standards for private rented homes – warmer homes, lower bills.”

The policy of forcing landlords to upgrade properties before they can rent them out was mentioned in the Labour party manifesto and talked about in parliament last month. It reverses the previous Conservative government’s U-turn on mandatory EPC ‘C' ratings in September last year announced by the then Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak.

Head of Policy and Campaigns at Propertymark, Timothy Douglas said “Property agents want to see more energy-efficient homes, but new rules and requirements must be realistic and achievable.

“Without providing landlords with incentives and access to sustained funding, it is unlikely that energy efficiency targets for the private rented sector and a reduction in emissions across the property sector will be met.”

Chris Norris, from the National Residential Landlords Association, said “The NRLA wants to see all rented properties become as energy efficient as possible.

“However, the Government’s approach must involve a clear and comprehensive plan which recognises that the sector has some of the oldest, and hardest to improve, properties in the UK’s housing stock.

“The sector needs a clear trajectory setting out what will be expected of it and by when. This plan must also ensure enough tradespeople are in place to undertake the work that will be required.

“Alongside this is the need for a financial package to support investment in energy efficiency measures.”

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