A petition on the House of Commons website is calling for equal treatment across all property tenures regarding energy efficiency regulations. The petition argues that private rental properties should not be singled out for stricter efficiency standards while other property types remain exempt.
The petition was launched in January by Mark Thompson, a private landlord, who believes that energy efficiency legislation should apply uniformly to all properties, not just those in the private rental sector. His argument is based on the idea that fairness in regulation would create a level playing field for all property owners.
Titled “Apply the same energy efficiency legislation to all property – not just rentals,” the petition aims to push policymakers to reconsider the current approach. Thompson and other landlords argue that imposing stricter energy efficiency rules on rentals alone places an unfair financial burden on landlords while leaving owner-occupied and social housing properties unaffected.
Despite the petition’s intent, it has gained very little traction among the public. As of yesterday evening, the number of signatures remained below 25, indicating minimal support for the proposed changes.
The lack of engagement suggests that either the issue has not resonated widely with property owners and tenants or that there is general acceptance of the government’s existing policies. Many renters, for example, may see stricter energy efficiency standards for rental properties as a positive step toward reducing energy costs and improving living conditions.
On the other hand, landlords have long expressed frustration over the rising costs associated with meeting ever-evolving energy efficiency targets. Some argue that while they support sustainability, the financial responsibility should be shared more equally among all property owners.
For a petition to receive a formal response from the government, it must gather at least 10,000 signatures. To be considered for debate in Parliament, it must reach 100,000 signatures—a threshold this petition is far from achieving.
The slow pace of sign-ups raises questions about whether the issue lacks public awareness or if landlords are simply not mobilising enough support. Without a significant increase in backing, it is unlikely that the government will be compelled to act on the petition’s request.
For now, private landlords like Thompson may need to explore other avenues to challenge energy efficiency regulations. Whether through industry associations, lobbying efforts, or further petitions, they will have to work harder to bring their concerns to the attention of policymakers.
The petition emerged in response to new legislation introduced by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, which requires private landlords to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. Under the proposed rules, rental properties must achieve at least a C rating on their Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) by 2030.
However, the petition argues that this requirement unfairly targets landlords while leaving owner-occupied properties exempt from similar standards. It calls for the same EPC targets to apply to all homeowners, not just landlords.
If the government is unwilling to extend the regulation to all property owners, the petition suggests that the legislation should be scrapped entirely. Supporters believe that holding only landlords to stricter standards creates an unbalanced and inequitable system.
The petition states: “The UK government has announced plans to significantly increase energy efficiency standards for privately rented properties. Owner-occupied properties would not be required to meet the same requirements, which we think creates an unfair and illogical situation from an environmental standpoint.”
Proponents argue that if energy efficiency improvements are truly about tackling climate change and reducing carbon emissions, then all properties—regardless of ownership—should be required to meet the same standards. They believe applying the rules only to rental properties undermines the broader environmental goals.
Critics of the petition, however, suggest that rental properties should be prioritised because tenants often have little control over their home’s energy efficiency. By placing the responsibility on landlords, the government aims to ensure that renters live in warmer, more energy-efficient homes while reducing overall energy waste.
Landlords who oppose the new rules argue that the cost of upgrading properties to meet EPC C ratings could be substantial, particularly for older homes. They claim that without financial support, the added expense may lead to higher rents or force some landlords out of the market altogether.
The debate over energy efficiency regulations is ongoing, with stakeholders from different sides presenting strong arguments. While the petition seeks to level the playing field, it remains to be seen whether it will gain enough traction to influence government policy.
For now, landlords affected by the changes will need to start planning for the 2030 deadline, unless the petition gains significant support and forces the government to reconsider its approach.
“We urge the UK government to introduce a level playing field by applying the same energy efficiency standards to both privately rented and owner-occupied properties.
“We believe that a fair and equitable approach to improving energy efficiency with the same standards is applied across the board. We think it is illogical from an environmental point of view to only apply the rules to the private rental sector.”
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