黑洞社区

Labour has denied it is planning to scrap the proposed introduction of minimum energy performance standards for rented properties in 2018 despite shadow energy minister saying it was last night.

Yesterday, Labour launched a six point plan to boost energy efficiency in buildings that it is consulting on but will eventually form part of its policy offering at the next election.

The plans include the introduction of a minimum performance standard for rented property in 2027, set at an Energy Performance Certificate rating of C.

The current government鈥檚 plans include introduction of a similar standard in 2018 set at EPC rating of E.

Speaking at the launch of the energy efficiency green paper last night shadow energy minister Jonathan Reynolds confirmed that Labour proposed to scrap the 2018 target and replace it with the 2027 target.

He said: 鈥淲hat we are trying to achieve is a situation where rather than going from [EPC rating] G to E we go up to the Cs because we think it鈥檚 more cost effective.鈥�

Reynolds said that achieving a C rating for all rented properties was 鈥渁mbitious鈥� and therefore required a long lead-in for landlords.

But Labour鈥檚 energy team later 鈥渃larified鈥� the party鈥檚 position and said there were no plans whatsoever to get rid of the 2018 target and it would be kept alongside the 2027 target.

Prior to Labour clarifying it position, industry leaders denounced the plan to scrap the 2018 target and argued it was complimentary to a higher standard in 2027.

David Adams, technical director at Willmott Dixon Energy Services, said scrapping the 2018 target was a 鈥渂ad idea鈥� and Russell Smith, managing director of sustainability consultant Parity Projects, said it was an 鈥渁wful鈥� plan.

Adams said: 鈥淲e absolutely need both. We need the 2018 target to get people to move forward while also showing a trajectory to 2027.鈥�

Jenny Holland, head of the Parliamentary team at the Association for the Conservation of Energy, said scrapping the 2018 target would be 鈥渃atastrophic鈥�.

She added: 鈥淚f they ditch the 2018 target thousands will be in poor homes until 2026 and it will be a victory for the landlords that didn鈥檛 want the target in the first place.鈥�