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14/7/25 8:13 pm
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Landlords have warned that new rental rules will force them to delay or reduce energy-efficiency works, resulting in colder, lower-quality homes.
In the countdown to the Autumn Budget, polling of more than 3,000 rental app August users shows 62% are likely to spend less on property improvements as costs rise elsewhere due to the legislation.
Energy efficiency upgrades are at particular risk; more than half (54%) of landlords say they are very or somewhat likely to delay or reduce energy-efficiency spending, citing high upfront costs and financial uncertainty. Just 20% of landlords plan to continue as normal with no plans to reduce spending or investment.
Founder Samuel Cope says it reveals a developing crisis in rental property standards as the Renters’ Rights Act adds pressure to already-stretched budgets.
He reckons it’s a red flag for the UK’s climate ambitions. “You cannot legislate for higher housing standards while pushing landlords into corners financially,” says Cope. “Without targeted support, the Renters’ Rights Act risks slowing down green upgrades across millions of homes. I’ve written to the Chancellor today urging her to protect the quality and safety of the rental sector. If she doesn’t, we risk locking both landlords and tenants into lower-quality homes for years to come.”
The Mortgage Works says a more energy efficient BTL property (rated A or B) attracts a significant premium of 10.9% compared to a similar property rated D. Its recent survey found that of those landlords who had had work done, 18% paid for green improvements, and 22% chose to renovate to ensure compliance with required standards and regulations, however, just over half of landlords (51%) regretted renovating their rental properties, citing difficulties with loss of income when tenants had to move out.
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