Labour has confirmed that it will require all private sector landlords to bring their properties up to a minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) band C by 2030.

Energy Security and Net Zero minister Miatta Fahnbulleh (main image, inset) told MPs that “this government is committed to reducing the number of fuel poor households in England.

“We will require landlords to improve their properties to Energy Performance Certificate band C by 2030.

“Ensuring warmer, healthier private rented homes will lift many families out of fuel poverty and reduce energy bills.”

This follows a promise by her boss, Ed Miliband earlier this summer that “the House should be in no doubt about our ambition to cut the number of people in fuel poverty as much as possible during the five years of this parliament”.

“More than 3 million people are in fuel poverty in our country.”

EPC required

At the moment, any property in England, Scotland or Wales that is either being built, marketed for sale or let as an entire property requires an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).

Since the 1st of October 2008, landlords letting whole properties must have a valid EPC rated at 'E' or above to provide to prospective tenants.

EPCs are valid for ten years. After this time, landlords are only required to get a new EPC if they are re-letting to a new tenant.

But Labour has rowed away from one key ‘Net Zero’ issue – setting a deadline for the replacement of gas boilers with greener alternatives, saying that “nobody will be forced to rip out their boiler as a result of our plans”. The Tories proposed such a policy but U-turned during July 2023.