Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 25
25
Paragraph: 112
In its forthcoming Heat and Buildings Strategy, the Government, acting on the advice of the...
Recommendation
In its forthcoming Heat and Buildings Strategy, the Government, acting on the advice of the Climate Change Committee, should set an ambitious and realistic trajectory for owner occupiers to achieve minimum EPC C standards. The CCC recommends that by 2028 all properties achieve EPC level C at the point of sale. This is a hugely ambitious target and the Government must set out how it plans to raise public engagement and revise its delivery mechanisms to achieve this target and specify where exemptions may be necessary. These measures may include cost caps to be applied to such work and exemptions from the requirement to meet these standards: for instance, on the grounds of affordability or for properties recognised as hard to treat. It should also 60 Energy Efficiency of Existing Homes ascertain the risks of creating a two-tier mortgage market and long-term blight for owner occupiers and the private rented sector of hard-to adapt properties and identify and implement measures to avoid this impact.
Paragraph Reference:
112
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
Energy efficiency of existing homes: Government Response 17 The Government recognises more needs to be done to improve the energy performance of owner- occupied homes and we remain committed to the aspiration for as many homes as possible to be upgraded to EPC Band C by 2035, where practical, cost-effective and affordable. We committed in the Energy White Paper to consulting on regulatory measures to improve the energy performance of owner-occupied homes. We will be consulting on a broad range of regulatory options this year. We recognise that for some homes it may not be possible to reach EPC C in a practical, cost- effective and affordable way and any policy will take that into account. As an example, we have already addressed related concerns in our existing domestic private rented sector regulations where homes cannot reach EPC E. Under these regulations, there are a range of exemptions that property owners can use (e.g. where improvements are too costly, where all improvements have carried out, where measures would have a negative impact on the property, etc). EPC Band C by 2030. The proposal is designed to stimulate a market for green finance and ensure access to attractive finance options for homeowners. Access to finance will play an important role in improving the energy performance of homes. We included a number of proposals in the consultation to reduce potential risks, such as setting a portfolio average improvement target (rather than an absolute minimum) to allow lenders to lend to properties with varying levels of efficiency and still reach their target. We have also proposed an exemptions framework for vulnerable homeowners and certain property types. We will consider responses to these proposals carefully as part of our ongoing policy development.