The Government is currently in consultation regarding proposed updates to the existing Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) which aims to increase the existing Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating to at least ‘C’ by 2025 for all new lettings as part of its net-zero strategy, and 2028 for all existing let dwellings. We asked Associate Partner in our Property Management & Consultancy team, Tiffany Radford-Hancock, her views on these updates.
I manage various estates across the country and feel that the recommendations given by EPC assessors in many cases are not practical for the kinds of properties we manage. On behalf of our many landlords, we are calling for a common-sense approach to improving old properties which may not be listed.
It is clearly very important the Government puts in place policies to achieve net-zero for the good of the environment, but in practice a lot of the ideas are simply untenable for historic properties. We are being given recommendations by EPC assessors that, at best, are difficult to implement and, in some cases, are completely impractical. One told us to erect a wind turbine and install solar panels on a listed building, which would alter its historic character and be extremely challenging to obtain consent for under the existing planning regulations.
In other cases, recommendations given by assessors wouldn’t even get properties to a ‘C’ rating anyway, leaving landlords powerless. We are trying to do what we can, but many of the properties on the estates we manage date back to the 18th and 19th century. Retrofitting them to earn an ‘E’ on an EPC rating was extremely challenging, so getting them to a ‘C’ is even harder.
Prices of materials have also skyrocketed over the last couple of years, which makes this process incredibly expensive. The cost estimates given to us by assessors for their recommended improvements are frequently far less than the actual cost.
I feel that more support is needed from the Government when it comes to historic properties. There needs to be further exemptions for listed buildings and those in conservation areas, and an understanding that an EPC rating cannot be a one-size-fits-all tick list. Often, solutions that would make sense for newer, urban homes are nearly impossible to apply to older, historic properties, and often would require the tenant to vacant the property to safely install the EPC recommendations such as floor and internal wall insulation.
We are hoping the government sees sense on this and alters how it calculates EPC ratings for historic properties. We all have a role to play in helping the environment, but it needs to be done in a sensible way.
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