A straw poll of building surveyors, recovery experts, private landlords, investors and developers has found that the vast majority deem the government’s EPC C target by 2030 as impossible to meet.

Landwood Group says 95% of respondents quizzed in an online survey were sceptical about hitting the target given current conditions and that landlords were deeply concerned about the new policy’s viability.

It reports that private landlords are already abandoning their property portfolios in record numbers; the chartered surveyors, asset managers and auctioneer firm has seen a surge in landlords selling off their properties, from single homes to large portfolios.

"What use is energy efficiency if people can’t afford a place to live?”

Partner Mark Bailey (pictured) says the ‘green’ initiative might look good on paper, but it’s built on shaky foundations. “The focus on improving modern social housing overlooks the vast majority of Britain’s private rental properties which are ageing and would require significant, costly upgrades to meet the EPC C standard,” he adds.

“For many, achieving this rating is not just challenging; it’s nearly impossible without substantial financial investment. Previously, government subsidies helped with upgrades like heat pumps and insulation. Now, landlords have little choice but to sell or raise rents to cover these high costs.”

Destabilising

Bailey believes that without a well-considered plan and adequate support, the policy risks destabilising the rental market and potentially undermining the very individuals it intends to protect.

“Energy efficiency is certainly important, especially in light of rising energy costs. But what use is energy efficiency if people can’t afford a place to live?”

LandlordZONE has previously reported that private landlords face an average bill of £10,000 to hit the EPC C targets by 2030. An estimated 2.7 million rental properties will need some form of energy efficiency retrofitting across the PRS in England, Scotland and Wales, according to Reapit.