Mark Thompson, a private landlord has started a petition under the title “Apply the same energy efficiency legislation to all property – not just rentals.”, where he calls for the private rental sector to be treated the same as owner occupiers, or be scrapped.

This petition raises an important debate about fairness and consistency in energy efficiency legislation across property tenures. Mark Thompson’s argument suggests that targeting only the private rental sector for stricter EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) standards could be seen as discriminatory, as owner-occupied properties are exempt from these rules.

Key points of the petition:

  1. Uniform Standards: The petition advocates for all properties, regardless of tenure, to meet the same energy efficiency standards.
  2. Fairness in Policy: If the new EPC target (C rating by 2030) cannot be universally applied, the legislation should be reconsidered or scrapped entirely.
  3. Impact on Landlords: The proposed regulation could impose significant financial pressures on private landlords, potentially leading to higher rents or landlords exiting the market, reducing housing availability.

Broader Context:

  • Energy Secretary Ed Miliband’s Proposal: The focus on rental properties aims to improve the energy efficiency of homes often occupied by lower-income tenants, who may face higher energy bills due to poorly insulated housing.
  • Challenges for Owner-Occupiers: Extending the policy to all properties would involve significant public and private investment and might face resistance due to cost implications for individual homeowners.

The petition reads:

“The UK government has announced plans to significantly increase energy efficiency standards for privately rented properties.

“Owner-occupied properties are however exempt from the same requirements creating an unfair and illogical situation from an environmental standpoint.

“We, the undersigned, urge the UK government to introduce a level playing field by applying the same energy efficiency standards to both privately rented and owner-occupied properties.

“We believe that a fair and equitable approach to improving energy efficiency with the same standards is applied across the board. It is illogical from an environmental point of view to only apply the rules to the private rental sector. Either scrap the legislation or apply it equally across the board.”

If you want to support the petition, you can Sign the petition.