Skipton Group is calling on the Labour government to consider ways to incentivise and support landlords in the forthcoming Autumn Budget, to enable landlords to reach the new set target of an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of Band C on their properties by 2030.

Commenting on the government’s confirmation that all landlords will have to meet an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of Band C by 2030,  Skipton Group chief executive of home financing Charlotte Harrison said:  “Landlords play an integral part in the UKs housing provision, and we know they face significant challenges in greening their homes from an awareness, cost, and access to appropriate guidance and skills perspective.”

“We believe that when it comes to the decarbonisation of our housing stock, the Government needs to consider ways to incentivise and support landlords in forthcoming Budgets to enable them to reach the new proposed target.

She added: “Making the necessary improvements to their properties is critical to helping the country meet its net zero target and, importantly, will help to address some of the challenges that the cost of living, energy and climate crises have had on people living in the UK.”

Harrison suggested that support could include making energy improvement costs tax deductible, taking it a step further by offering government grants, or matching energy home improvement – for instance spending £1 for £1.

“To date, there have been more incentives for homeowners and social tenants to green their homes than there have been for landlords, offering an opportunity for this government to equalise that imbalance.”