Nigel Farage has criticised Ed Miliband’s proposed Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) targets for landlords, claiming they will be “impossible” for some to meet by 2030.
Speaking on GB News, Farage said: “With older properties, if you are going to be able to meet these EPC targets Ed Miliband thinks you have to by 2030, it is pretty much impossible”.
The comments come as Labour’s energy secretary pushes for stricter energy efficiency standards in rental properties, aiming to raise the minimum EPC rating from E to C by the end of the decade.
Labour’s proposed EPC targets for rental properties have sparked debate in the UK property sector.
The party aims to raise the minimum energy efficiency standard for rented homes from the current E rating to C by 2030.
Farage took aim at Ed Miliband
GB NEWS / PA
This policy, outlined by Ed Miliband at the recent Labour Party Conference, is designed to address what he called the “Tory scandal” of tenants living in “cold draughty homes”.
The move echoes previous Conservative plans, which were later relaxed by Rishi Sunak’s government.
Critics argue that the targets may be too ambitious and could have unintended consequences for the rental market.
The EPC system has faced criticism from various quarters. A Leeds Beckett University study found that approximately 27 per cent of EPCs completed between 2008 and 2016 contained errors.
Critics argue that the grading system is “not fit for purpose” and can clash with other net zero initiatives.
Nigel Farage was responding to a viewer’s comment
GB NEWS
Chris Norris of the National Residential Landlords Association called EPCs a “blunt tool”, noting their limited usefulness for landlords and tenants.
The system’s reliance on non-intrusive assessments, where assessors must guess insulation levels, has also been questioned. Despite these concerns, the government has yet to overhaul the assessment process.
The cost of upgrading rental properties to meet the proposed EPC targets is substantial.
Ed Miliband has been advised to U-turn on the proposalsPA
Telegraph analysis revealed that £36 billion would be needed to improve Britain’s rental properties to achieve the C rating.
In 85 per cent of local authorities, the average cost to upgrade eligible properties exceeds £10,000.
Michelle Lawson of Lawson Financial warned that these costs could lead to higher rents, as landlords struggle to absorb the expenses.
With many landlords already facing high mortgage rates and reduced tax breaks, there are concerns that these additional costs could drive some out of the market, potentially exacerbating the housing crisis.
