Ed Miliband, Labour’s Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary, has told the party’s annual conference that landlords will have to upgrade their homes to a minimum EPC ‘C’ rating by 2030 or be unable to rent their properties legally.

The policy, which was mooted in the Labour manifesto and confirmed in parliament last month, reverses the previous government’s U-turn on mandatory EPC ‘C ratings in September last year, announced by the then PM Rishi Sunak.

Miliband (main image) said: “Many of the poorest in our country live in cold, drafty homes, and many [of these homes' are rented from private landlords and which are 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."

Clear trajectory

Reacting to his comments, Chris Norris (picture), Policy Director for the National Residential Landlords Association, says: “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, as the Committee on Fuel Poverty has warned, is the need for a financial package to support investment in energy efficiency measures.

“At present, the private rented sector is the only housing tenure without a bespoke package to support work to upgrade homes.”

While some 45% of rented homes in England already have a C rated certificate, a third of rented homes were built before 1919, making the most difficult and expensive to upgrade.

The government has also announced a new Warm Homes: Local Grant to help low-income homeowners and private tenants with energy performance upgrades and cleaner heating, and confirmed the continuation of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, as well as the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund, which replaces the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, to support social housing providers and tenants.