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Student landlords! Are you braced for EPC targets?

Journalist: Tom Haynes, Daily Telegraph

ended 21. March 2025

Ed Miliband wants all landlords to achieve EPC-C across their rental homes by 2030. For most, this will mean spending thousands upgrading properties' insulation, windows, etc. The targets will naturally apply to landlords who let to students, and student housing is somewhat notorious for being a bit run-down, not that most students mind all that much.

Telegraph analysis of EPC data has found that there is a high concentration of properties with EPC scores of D or lower in student neighbourhoods: Fallowfield in Manchester; Selly Oak in Birmingham; Lenton in Nottingham; Hyde Park in Leeds, etc.

How do student landlords, and those who represent them feel about this? WIll they sell up? Are improvements needed or unnecessary? And Where will this money come from - higher rents?

2 responses from the Newspage community

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Emma JonesVerified
Managing Director at Whenthebanksaysno.co.uk
Forcing landlords to hit EPC-C by 2030 is a costly gamble. Retrofitting student rentals isn’t cheap and many will sell up or hike rents. Students care more about affordability than energy ratings. If landlords are pushed too hard, we’ll see fewer rentals, higher rents and a housing squeeze. Sustainability matters, but so does reality.
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Sean Horton0
Managing Director at Respect Mortgages
The EPC-C push could spell serious trouble for student housing. Landlords will face hefty bills to bring older properties up to scratch, with costs exceeding government estimates of £6,800. Student property owners are looking at a serious cash squeeze. It's not just about slapping in some insulation – many student homes are large, older properties, needing major work. The timing couldn't be worse. With margins already squeezed by regulatory changes and interest rates, many smaller landlords will simply sell up rather than spend over £10,000 on each property. As with the buy to let sector, HMO landlords will be doing their sums and deciding whether to invest or just exit the market. Any capital investment needs to show a return, so expect rents to rise as landlords pass on costs.