Nearly four-fifths (79%) of landlords favour raising the minimum energy efficiency standard (MEES) on rental properties, research by the Social Market Foundation has revealed.
Private sector landlords were most supportive of raising the MEES to Grade C, with only 11% in opposition.
At present, the MEES is set to an E, which means that landlords are allowed to lease their properties if it gets an E rating on energy efficiency.
The private rented sector (PRS) is the worst performing tenure for energy efficiency in the UK.
In September, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak scrapped plans to require all landlords to upgrade their properties to at least EPC C by 2028, citing the need to protect tenants from unfair price hikes in rent due to the cost of renovations.
However, private renters in England and Wales are on track to waste £1.1bn – £220 per household – on energy that leaks out of their walls and windows.
Some landlords expressed frustration at the uncertainty created by the Government’s perceived indecisiveness, and concern that the goalposts might be moved again.
Others were upset at having spent substantial sums of money on improving their houses, only to discover that was unnecessary.
Niamh O Regan, researcher at Social Market Foundation, said: “British homes are on a dismal trajectory when it comes to improving energy efficiency, and failing to improve the private rented sector is losing an easy win.
“Recent Government actions seem to suggest that renters can either have energy efficient homes or affordable rents – but this is a false logic.
“Poor energy efficiency is currently costing them millions. Instead of trying to understand landlords and how they can be motivated to better insulate their properties, the Government would rather kick the can down the road, pushing us further and further from greener, healthier and more net-zero friendly homes.”
