To recap on the proposals, by the end of 2025 all new tenancies will be required to have a valid EPC rating of C or above and, from the end of 2028, the rules will apply to all tenancies.

However, MPs have been dragging their feet with the bill, which is not due to have its second reading until next month. Therefore, everything in it is subject to change.

But as things stand, it is predicted to cost landlords an estimated £21.5bn – or £7,646 per property – to comply with the new rules, according to the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government.

Clearly, there will be a lot of people who will struggle to afford that. But if we engage early enough, we can cushion the blow for landlords. Here are just some of the ways we can do that.

Encourage landlords to check their EPC rating

While a lot of landlords will know the EPC rating of their properties, there will also be a lot who don’t, particularly those who have other day jobs.

Therefore we – and by that I mean both lenders and brokers – need to encourage them to find out as soon as possible.

That way they know what is required to reach C and roughly how much it will cost, and can therefore plan for it.

Look for ‘quick wins’

While most people concentrate on the letter bandings in the EPC system, the SAP points system is arguably more important to focus on.

For example, if you have a D rated property with an SAP score of 55, it will take a lot more effort and expense to upgrade to a C than another D rated property with an SAP score of 67.

Therefore, in some cases, jumping from a D to a C may simply be a case of installing energy efficient lighting or insulating a hot water cylinder, rather than, for example, installing expensive solar panels.

Encourage take-up of government support

As I said above, it is thought that landlords with properties that have an EPC of D or lower will have to fork out around £7,600 each, on average, in order to comply with the rules.

I would imagine many landlords, particularly those with small portfolios that are doubling up as a pension pot, will are unlikely to have that sort of money lying around.

Unfortunately, last year the government removed an important financial lifeline for landlords, the Green Homes Grant (GHG), which offered up to £5,000 to carry out energy efficient upgrades.

However, there is still financial help available – and we must ensure landlords know about it.

For example, landlords can apply for up to £6,000 to switch a gas boiler for a more efficient heat pump through the £450m boiler upgrade scheme. However, with the scheme only able to support 90,000 households, they will have to move fast.

Further, in the Spring Statement, chancellor Rishi Sunak removed VAT on the installation of solar panels, a move he says will save around £1,000 on average.

While these may be somewhat underwhelming replacements for the GHG, they nonetheless provide some form of financial support for those landlords who need it.

Start funding talks now

Those who do not have enough spare cash to make the necessary upgrades will probably have to rely on refinancing to cover the costs.

With interest rates increasing, it’s important brokers – and even lenders in some cases – start those discussions as soon as possible in order to secure the best deal.

Flag green mortgage options     

A number of lenders have started offering green mortgages in the past year – Keystone being one – that offer financial incentives, such as reduced rates, for landlords who make their properties more efficient.

While the savings from a green mortgage may not cover, say, the cost of installing double glazing windows on a property, they can be still be substantial.

Therefore, brokers and lenders should make a concerted effort to make landlords aware of them over the coming 12 months.

Get familiar with the exemptions

While the vast majority of landlords are expected to comply with the new rules, the government has said it will exempt those where it is not “practical, cost-effective and affordable” to carry out the improvements.

As the bill is currently going through Parliament, the definition of that may change, so it’s important we all keep on top of them to help those who cannot afford to make the necessary upgrades.

But, given how important it is deemed to achieve ‘net zero’, it’s also imperative that all landlords who can afford it do make them, of course.

Elise Coole is managing director of specialist buy-to-let lender Keystone Property Finance