In a recent interview with the Sunday Telegraph, Housing Secretary Michael Gove has expressed his view that the government should reconsider the timeline for Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) reforms expected from private landlords. Gove hinted at potential changes to the existing timetable, acknowledging that the current demands on landlords may be excessive.

The proposed EPC reforms are set to mandate private landlords to invest in green measures, such as insulation and heat pumps, in order to meet a new minimum energy efficiency threshold by 2028. However, Gove’s recent comments reveal growing concerns about the practicality and financial burden imposed on landlords by the upcoming regulations.

Gove admitted, “In my own department, the government was asking too much too quickly of landlords,” as he highlighted the challenges posed by the looming deadline. The proposed measures have raised significant financial pressures on landlords, which may have unintended consequences for the rental market.

According to recent data from Rightmove, a staggering 16 per cent of homes listed on the platform had previously been let privately. Stricter Energy Performance Certificates have emerged as the primary reason driving landlords to sell their properties, potentially impacting the availability and affordability of rental homes.

The interview with Gove comes in the aftermath of the Uxbridge by-election, where both major parties, including the unsuccessful Labour party, pointed to the introduction of an expensive Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) tax as a contributing factor to their loss. Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan has been fervently advocating for rent controls in the capital and has made ULEZ a personal mission.

The Sunday Times reported that, following a meeting with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, Khan is considering revising the financial impact of the ULEZ on London residents. The ULEZ and the impending EPC reforms have sparked debates about the balance between environmental initiatives and their effects on landlords and tenants alike.

As discussions continue on how to address climate change while ensuring sustainable and fair housing practices, the Housing Secretary’s call to ‘relax the pace’ on EPC reforms brings new dimensions to the ongoing debate on energy efficiency and the rental market.