Policy Threads

22 May 2025 | Committee report linked

We are deeply concerned that Energy Performance Certificates, as currently calibrated, provide some consumers with poorly conceived advice and have a strong bias against low carbon, but initially more expensive, heating systems. As a cost-based metric, Energy Performance Certificates are not, as they stand, an effective tool for decarbonising UK homes. To the contrary, they are deterring consumers from making the switch to low carbon heating. (Conclusion, Paragraph 62)

We are deeply concerned that Energy Performance Certificates, as currently calibrated, provide some consumers with poorly conceived advice and have a strong bias against low carbon, but initially more expensive, heating systems. As a cost-based metric, Energy Performance Certificates are …

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22 May 2025 | Committee report linked

Energy Performance Certificate assessments vary greatly in quality and consistency. It is therefore troubling that they are expected to perform such a range of functions that they were never initially designed for, such as determining eligibility for government support schemes. If the Government is to continue using Energy Performance Certificates for such purposes, reform of the Energy Performance Certificate metric must come quickly. The validity of Energy Performance Certificates for 10 ye...

Energy Performance Certificate assessments vary greatly in quality and consistency. It is therefore troubling that they are expected to perform such a range of functions that they were never initially designed for, such as determining eligibility for government support schemes. …

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22 May 2025 | Committee report linked

This report highlights the high and stagnating levels of energy poverty in the UK and the current disincentive that Energy Performance Certificates have on low carbon heating options due to price concerns. We therefore recommend that the Government reforms the Energy Performance Certificate metric with a renewed focus on both emissions and energy costs. This should be used to recommend home improvements to households who should then be signposted to independent advice following an assessment....

This report highlights the high and stagnating levels of energy poverty in the UK and the current disincentive that Energy Performance Certificates have on low carbon heating options due to price concerns. We therefore recommend that the Government reforms the …

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8 May 2024 | Committee report linked

Noting that the role of private investment in decarbonisation has so far been limited, we encourage the Government to review what role private investment might play in meeting net zero, noting the advice from witnesses that this could involve the use of equity rather than debt and should result in more homes becoming available to rent, for example by returning homes that could not previously be rented to the market.

Noting that the role of private investment in decarbonisation has so far been limited, we encourage the Government to review what role private investment might play in meeting net zero, noting the advice from witnesses that this could involve the …

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31 Jan 2024 | Committee report linked

We urge the Government to respond as soon as possible to its consultation on improving home energy performance through lenders which closed in February 2021. Ministers must rapidly bring forward proposals to encourage access to low-cost finance for householders to invest in home improvements which can increase energy efficiency and heat resilience.

We urge the Government to respond as soon as possible to its consultation on improving home energy performance through lenders which closed in February 2021. Ministers must rapidly bring forward proposals to encourage access to low-cost finance for householders to …

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18 Aug 2023 | Committee report linked

This balance of investment analysis should also be applied to the housing stock as, in conjunction with wider upgrades, it could enhance the living conditions of Service personnel and their families, thereby improving retention.

This balance of investment analysis should also be applied to the housing stock as, in conjunction with wider upgrades, it could enhance the living conditions of Service personnel and their families, thereby improving retention. Type: conclusion | Number: 5 | …

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9 Feb 2023 | Committee report linked

Given the importance of the MEES to the Government’s net zero strategy, not to mention the health, cost and other benefits of living in a warm home, we recommend that the MEES be incorporated into criterion D and that the Government come up with financing solutions for PRS landlords for whom the cost of the necessary improvement works would exceed the £10,000 cap. We also recommend that the Government determine the number of homes in the PRS exempt from the MEES by virtue of having a total fl...

Given the importance of the MEES to the Government’s net zero strategy, not to mention the health, cost and other benefits of living in a warm home, we recommend that the MEES be incorporated into criterion D and that the …

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9 Feb 2023 | Committee report linked

We recommend that the Government review the impact of recent changes to taxation rules in the buy-to-let sector, with a view to making changes to make it more financially attractive to smaller landlords. If it is not willing to do this, it should at least be much clearer about what role it wants the private rented sector to play in the wider housing mix and, in particular, whether it values the involvement of landlords with very small portfolios.

We recommend that the Government review the impact of recent changes to taxation rules in the buy-to-let sector, with a view to making changes to make it more financially attractive to smaller landlords. If it is not willing to do …

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5 Jan 2023 | Committee report linked

The Government must also urgently bring forward measures to incentivise energy efficiency improvements via the mortgage market. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy conducted a consultation on how an obligation on lenders could be introduced to improve the energy performance of domestic properties with mortgages. This consultation closed in February 2021: but more than 18 months afterwards the Government has yet to come forward with concrete proposals to kick-start a re...

The Government must also urgently bring forward measures to incentivise energy efficiency improvements via the mortgage market. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy conducted a consultation on how an obligation on lenders could be introduced to improve the …

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5 Jan 2023 | Committee report linked

The Government can take further practical measures to make its policy on energy efficiency more effective. The current system of Energy Performance Certificates still requires a thorough overhaul to ensure that they represent an accurate assessment of the improved energy performance of buildings. We recommend that the Government bring forward amendments to the Energy Bill, currently in the House of Lords, to provide for a more effective rating system. The Government has also promised to publi...

The Government can take further practical measures to make its policy on energy efficiency more effective. The current system of Energy Performance Certificates still requires a thorough overhaul to ensure that they represent an accurate assessment of the improved energy …

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13 Apr 2022 | Committee report linked

The Department lacks good enough data to understand the nature and extent of problems renters face. The Department lacks sufficient data on the challenges facing landlords, tenants, and local authorities within the sector. For example, it lacks robust data on complaints, overcrowding, harassment and evictions, and has a limited understanding of who is vulnerable and how this impacts their renting experience. Many issues facing both tenants and landlords are closely related to other policy are...

The Department lacks good enough data to understand the nature and extent of problems renters face. The Department lacks sufficient data on the challenges facing landlords, tenants, and local authorities within the sector. For example, it lacks robust data on …

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13 Apr 2022 | Committee report linked

The Department’s forthcoming White Paper offers an opportunity for significant improvement to the private rented sector. In the past ten years, the Department has made several positive legislative changes in the private rented sector, such as providing tenants with protection from eviction during the COVID-19 pandemic and banning unnecessary charges through the Tenant Fees Act and deposit protection schemes. However, these changes have been piecemeal, and the Department does not have a good u...

The Department’s forthcoming White Paper offers an opportunity for significant improvement to the private rented sector. In the past ten years, the Department has made several positive legislative changes in the private rented sector, such as providing tenants with protection …

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29 Oct 2021 | Committee report linked

The retrofitting of existing homes is essential for ensuring the UK reaches net zero by 2050. Retrofitting will come at substantial cost and can only be achieved through a mix of both public and private funding. We welcome the additional £3.9 billion of funding being provided for retrofitting as outlined in the Government’s Heat and Buildings Strategy, including for public sector buildings, social housing, and low-income families. But more needs to be done to provide long-term certainty for f...

The retrofitting of existing homes is essential for ensuring the UK reaches net zero by 2050. Retrofitting will come at substantial cost and can only be achieved through a mix of both public and private funding. We welcome the additional …

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29 Oct 2021 | Committee report linked

We were told that local government needs additional resources to enforce minimum energy efficiency standards in the private rented sector. Resources should be made available for this purpose. Enforcement would also be aided by the introduction of a register of landlords, as already undertaken in certain local authorities, and we are pleased to hear the Government is considering this as an option. This register must be compulsory and local authorities must have enforcement powers to ensure reg...

We were told that local government needs additional resources to enforce minimum energy efficiency standards in the private rented sector. Resources should be made available for this purpose. Enforcement would also be aided by the introduction of a register of …

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22 Mar 2021 | Committee report linked

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 exe...

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 …

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22 Mar 2021 | Committee report linked

Energy Performance Certificates have a range of flaws, with their inability to reflect real-world energy performance being the biggest challenge. Desk-based assessments with out-of-date software are doing nothing to improve the market value of decarbonised homes and do not accurately reflect the progress the country is making in improving the energy efficiency of housing stock. Given their role underpinning Government policy and targets, EPCs should nevertheless be retained but thoroughly ove...

Energy Performance Certificates have a range of flaws, with their inability to reflect real-world energy performance being the biggest challenge. Desk-based assessments with out-of-date software are doing nothing to improve the market value of decarbonised homes and do not accurately …

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22 Mar 2021 | Committee report linked

We recommend the EPC methodology is fundamentally overhauled to support low carbon heating measures by indicating, in its headline rating not only the fuel cost of heating a property but also its energy and carbon metrics. The measures in the Government’s EPC action plan are not enough to achieve what is needed to support the decarbonisation of homes: we recommend that Ministers look at this again with far greater urgency. Well in advance of 2025, while the energy market is rapidly decarbonis...

We recommend the EPC methodology is fundamentally overhauled to support low carbon heating measures by indicating, in its headline rating not only the fuel cost of heating a property but also its energy and carbon metrics. The measures in the …

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22 Mar 2021 | Committee report linked

Building renovation passports have the potential to provide much more accurate data on energy usage and could be used to unlock green finance. They provide homeowners with long-term renovation strategies which can minimise disruption to their properties and thereby encourage more extensive retrofitting of energy efficiency measures.

Building renovation passports have the potential to provide much more accurate data on energy usage and could be used to unlock green finance. They provide homeowners with long-term renovation strategies which can minimise disruption to their properties and thereby encourage …

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24 Nov 2020 | Committee report linked

We recommend that the Government include supplementary provisions in the Bill for mandating regular electrical safety checks in higher-risk buildings. (Paragraph 188) Construction Products and Supplementary Provisions

We recommend that the Government include supplementary provisions in the Bill for mandating regular electrical safety checks in higher-risk buildings. (Paragraph 188) Construction Products and Supplementary Provisions Type: recommendation | Number: 63 | Response status: under_consideration Governm

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