Landlords will not now be required to upgrade their properties to an EPC rating of at least a C for new tenancies from 2025, the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced. This means that landlords won’t be expected to pay up to £10,00 in energy efficient upgrades to ensure an A-C rating and there will be no fines for those that fail to reach that standard.
The Renters (Reform) Bill is now working its way through the House of Commons and House of Lords where the proposed reforms include introducing a limit to the number of rent increases to once per 12-month period, removing no fault evictions and strengthening Section 8, allowing landlords to recover their property in certain circumstances. Tenants will also be given more freedom over having a pet, however, the proposed bill includes further caveats that tenants must be financially accountable in the case of damages.
