The Warm Homes Plan for London Landlords: What You Need to Know
The Warm Homes Plan is not just for homeowners. London landlords with private rental properties can also access funding for energy efficiency improvements, provided the tenants living in those properties meet the eligibility criteria. This makes it one of the few schemes where a landlord can have significant improvement works carried out at little or no cost.
How does it work for landlords?
Under the Warm Homes Plan, the eligibility criteria relate to the household, not the property owner. This means a landlord whose tenant receives a qualifying benefit, or who is referred through the Local Authority Flex route, may be able to access funding for improvements to the rental property.
The works are carried out on the building itself and remain with the property when the tenancy changes. The landlord is the party who needs to consent to the works and allow access for the retrofit assessment and installation.
What improvements can be funded?
The same range of improvements available to homeowners applies to rental properties: insulation (loft, cavity wall, solid wall), heat pumps, solar panels, heating upgrades, and smart controls. The specific measures will depend on the property's construction, current energy rating, and what the PAS 2035 Retrofit Assessment determines is appropriate.
Why is this relevant to landlords now?
There is a wider regulatory context that makes this worth taking seriously. The government has indicated that minimum energy efficiency standards for private rented properties will be raised. Currently, properties must have an EPC rating of E or above to be legally let. There are plans to raise this requirement, with a proposed target of EPC C for new tenancies.
For landlords with properties currently rated D, E, F, or G, Warm Homes Plan funding offers a potential route to improving the EPC rating at reduced or no cost, helping to meet future requirements before they become mandatory.
What are the landlord's obligations?
Landlords are generally expected to make a contribution towards the cost of improvements in some circumstances, particularly if the property is not in the lowest EPC bands or if the household does not meet the benefits-based eligibility criteria. The specifics vary by scheme and by borough.
In straightforward cases where the tenant meets the eligibility criteria and the property has a poor EPC rating, the works may be fully funded. In other cases, a landlord contribution may be required. This should be clarified at the enquiry stage.
Landlords must also provide appropriate notice to tenants before any survey or works take place, and tenants must consent to the assessment.
How to find out if your rental property qualifies
The starting point is to check the property's current EPC rating and to establish whether your tenant may meet the eligibility criteria. If the property has a rating of D or below and your tenant receives a qualifying benefit, it is worth making an enquiry through your local London borough council or through an independent guidance service.
Because eligibility is assessed on a household basis, it is worth having a conversation with your tenant before making an enquiry, so they are aware of the process and can confirm whether they receive any qualifying benefits.