Landlords call for urgent roadmap and clarity to meet 2030 rental energy targets

# What happened

# Why it matters The report says the government's four-year timetable leaves little room for further ambiguity. Without clear rules and practical detail, landlords may delay undertaking upgrades until closer to 2030. That behaviour risks a last-minute surge in demand for installers, supply-chain pressure, and heavier enforcement workloads for councils.

# Specific gaps the report wants addressed

• How the new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) will interact with upcoming changes to Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs).
• Clear guidance on exemptions and the grounds and process for claiming them.
• Robust enforcement arrangements and sufficient local authority resourcing to police the regime.
• Accessible finance options and pathways to green lending for landlords.
• Measures to grow the skilled retrofit workforce and stronger quality controls for work carried out.

# Practical barriers identified Access to finance and a shortage of trained installers are highlighted as immediate obstacles. The report asks government to give retrofit businesses certainty so they can invest in training and apprenticeships, and to work with lenders to improve landlords' ability to secure funding for upgrades.

# Enforcement, consumer protection and support for tenants The report requests stronger enforcement and simpler complaint and redress routes for tenants and landlords. It recommends councils be given the resources they need to enforce standards effectively and that the proposed Warm Homes Agency act as a national source of impartial advice. It also asks for targeted support for tenants who are older, disabled or at risk of fuel poverty.

# What the report warns could happen without action

• Landlords delay investment until nearer 2030, producing a concentrated rush for installers and materials.
• Supply chains and local council enforcement teams face increased pressure and potential backlogs.
• Tenants who are vulnerable could be left unsupported during transitions, and complaints processes may be unclear.

# Bottom line Trust support the government's objectives but want a practical, well-signposted implementation plan issued now. The report's recommendations focus on legal clarity, finance routes, workforce development, quality assurance, enforcement resources and targeted tenant support to make the 2030 targets deliverable on the ground.