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Category: epc
News sources have claimed that Labour intends to abandon plans to ban the use of new gas boilers in homes by 2035.
The Tories had previously intended to phase out gas boilers completely by 2035, including in properties with existing ones. Labour were assumed to have upheld this plan, but this appears not to be the case.
However, Labour are still determined to increase the prevalence of heat pumps and other renewable heating sources, to improve the energy efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint of homes across the country.
Over the last five years, the government (both Conservative and Labour) have financially supported the installation of nearly 114,000 heat pumps.
Does this mean no more gas boilers, ever?
i newspaper claims that by 2035, it will be forbidden for a landlord to install a gas boiler in a new build property.
However, for properties that already have gas boilers in place, it will be possible to replace them with the same type of boiler.
So, as long as landlords continuously maintain their existing gas boilers and replace them when they’re spent, gas boilers won’t go extinct.
But with Labour’s housebuilding crusade, new build estates without a gas boiler in sight, may soon cover the green and pleasant land.
Impact on energy performance
Labour have taken some confusing stances on Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) since they came to power earlier this year.
On the one hand, Labour have pledged their commitment to tightening EPC targets, aiming to ensure that all buy to let properties in England reach a ‘C’ grade by 2030 (or 2028 for properties in Scotland). This target has been met with much controversy, particularly among landlords.
There is also confusion as to whether or not they will keep the EPC system at all, since the Tories had plans to replace it with a new energy performance measuring system. Nothing has been said on this so far.
Deciding not to completely ban all gas boilers may seem counterintuitive for Labour’s Net Zero targets. According to epIMS, an energy information platform developed for landlords, there may be pragmatic reasons for this.
Heat pump expenses
While heat pumps are considered more efficient, their cost effectiveness is doubtful.
Ground source heat pumps, which rely on natural geothermal energy, are marginally more expensive than traditional gas boilers, averaging out at £9 more to a homeowner’s annual bill.
However, the more commonly used air source heat pumps can be significantly more expensive, potentially costing a landlord hundreds more. Nonetheless, the more flexible installation options across a wider variety of locations (ground source pumps need plenty of space to be installed) makes them more popular.
For many landlords, heat pumps are not a financially viable option.
It seems that Labour are taking a more balanced approach to fulfilling their Net Zero goals to account for this issue.
Air quality in older properties
Another factor possibly in consideration is recent research showing that installing modern technology such as heat pumps into improve energy efficiency may not be healthy for older properties.
Newcastle University, Newcastle City Council and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine are currently working together to study over one hundred single-storey terraced homes with energy efficiency improvement works due to be carried out.
The leader of the study, Professor Jane Entwistle, has already reached a conclusion that “retrofitting older buildings to make them more energy efficient can reduce ventilation, which impacts on the amount of fresh air available indoors.”
This in turn raises the question of whether residents with respiratory issues may be impacted by widespread retrofitting of older properties, but the study is still ongoing.
With Victorian terraces being a popular choice for many buy to let landlords, as well as similar older properties in the Private Rented Sector, many landlords may hope that Labour will listen to this research.
Labour may be considering this research in their decarbonisation strategy going forward, hence the lenience towards old-school gas boilers.
We will keep you updated on official announcements. The Renters’ Rights Bill is due for another parliamentary reading on the 14th January and this may be among the changes mentioned.
