A new parliament dawns and there’s lots on the table for the rental market

Parliament is back this week bringing with it the potential for significant legislative updates that could affect the lettings industry including planning, leasehold reform and housebuilding. Initial discussions on the Great British Energy Bill took place on 5 September. The MPs’ return also marks the introduction of new landlord licensing schemes which will be brought in more widely in this parliament. Energy performance certificates (EPCs) is also an area up for discussion. Rightmove’s monthly energy bills tracker shows that the energy price cap rise of 10% means that someone living in a home with EPC rating of A could see their average annual bill increase by £56. This compares to an increase of £558 for a household living in a G rated property. The portal adds that lower bills is one of the biggest motivators for people to “go greener”, so over time people will increasingly seek out more energy efficient properties in order to keep bills down over the long-term. Its research suggests that if a dynamic price cap, where energy is cheaper at less popular times of day, was to be introduced, the majority would welcome it if it meant lower bills. Propertymark has commented that homes in the UK are among the least energy efficient in Europe and this is unlikely to change without the UK Government providing landlords and homeowners with incentives and access to sustained funding.