Ed Miliband Pledges to End ‘Tory Neglect’ with Stricter Energy Efficiency Standards for Rentals.
Labour’s Ed Miliband is set to announce a major shift in rental property standards, promising that all rented homes will need to meet stricter energy efficiency regulations. The new rules will require properties to have an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of C or higher by 2030.
In a speech to the Labour Party conference, Miliband will emphasize that millions of rental homes will need to undergo significant upgrades, which could cost landlords up to £10,000. These changes could include improvements like better insulation, solar panels, or heat pumps.
This policy, originally set for a 2028 deadline by the Conservative Party, was scrapped by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, citing concerns about the financial burden on landlords. However, Labour plans to reinstate and extend the deadline, which will impact millions of private rental properties.
Labour estimates that this policy will cost landlords around £25 billion, but Miliband has committed to providing assistance with insulation and energy-saving upgrades as part of the party’s revised green energy investment strategy.
Miliband will make it clear that the policy isn’t just about improving rental properties but also about tackling fuel poverty, promising that Labour will lift over one million people out of this situation through better home insulation and lower energy bills. He views the current situation, where many of the poorest live in poorly insulated homes, as an unacceptable failure by the Conservative government.
The upcoming announcement will also include reforms aimed at benefiting tenants, such as the elimination of no-fault evictions. While this has been welcomed by housing advocates, it has sparked concerns among landlords, who worry it might push them out of the rental market.
Labour is prepared to risk a confrontation with landlords to achieve its environmental goals. While they have offered an additional two years to meet the new standards, a consultation later this year will outline further details, including a potential cap on upgrade costs, likely set around £10,000.
At present, rental properties are required to meet an EPC rating of at least E, but Labour’s new policy will push for significant improvements. An estimated 2.9 million rented homes currently fall short of the C rating, meaning the changes will have a widespread impact.
While some landlords argue that the financial burden may force them to sell, Miliband insists that these measures are critical to ensuring better living conditions and reducing energy bills across the country. Labour’s plan also includes upgrading council-owned homes, with a significant investment expected to bring social housing up to these new standards.
Labour’s energy efficiency initiative comes with a £6 billion home insulation package, although specific financial support for landlords has not been announced. However, Miliband maintains that improving the energy efficiency of homes will not only benefit renters but also contribute to tackling the broader issue of climate change.
Original Story by Chris Smyth – Whitehall Editor – The Times
