The government has recently announced its intention to train more than 18,000 retrofit professionals across the UK. This initiative aims to support the push towards making homes more energy efficient, particularly in the private rented sector.
The plan is part of wider efforts to meet national energy efficiency targets, as the country continues to respond to climate commitments and rising energy costs. Skilled professionals will be crucial in helping landlords and property owners implement the necessary improvements to meet these standards.
The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has welcomed the announcement, recognising that additional skilled workers will play an important role in achieving energy performance goals. However, the association has also emphasised that further support is required—particularly for landlords—if these targets are to be reached within the proposed timeframes.
Ed Miliband, the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, has outlined that all properties in the private rented sector will be expected to meet an EPC rating of C or higher. The deadline for compliance has been set at 2030 for existing tenancies, while new tenancy agreements will need to meet the standard as early as 2028.
Many in the industry agree that while training more retrofit workers is a step in the right direction, challenges remain around the affordability and practicality of carrying out necessary upgrades, especially for smaller landlords. The NRLA and other housing bodies are calling for clear guidance, funding support, and a realistic timeline for implementation.
With energy bills continuing to be a concern for tenants, making homes more efficient is seen as an essential step. However, industry leaders caution that without further measures, the targets may still prove difficult to meet in practice—regardless of how many retrofit professionals are trained.
The government is expected to provide more details in the coming months regarding how this training programme will be rolled out, and what additional measures might be put in place to assist landlords in meeting the new EPC requirements.
The government has outlined plans to train thousands of workers with the skills needed to help meet the UK’s green energy goals. As part of its wider environmental strategy, it aims to prepare up to 18,000 people to install key energy-efficient technologies such as heat pumps, solar panels, insulation, and heat networks.
To support this, the Heat Training Grant will be extended, alongside the launch of the new Warm Homes Skills Programme. The initiative will run until July 2025 and is backed by £8 million in funding. This will go towards subsidising training for approximately 9,000 installers and retrofit professionals across the country.
In addition, a further £5 million will be invested into extending the Heat Training Grant through to March 2026. The government estimates this will help train around 5,500 new heat pump installers and 3,500 professionals for heat network systems. So far, more than 10,000 individuals have already been trained in relevant areas, according to official figures.
Despite these efforts, concerns remain about the scale of the challenge ahead. The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has warned that achieving the government’s energy efficiency targets may prove unrealistic. Meeting the EPC C standard by 2028 for new tenancies—and by 2030 for existing ones—would require a staggering 5,000 retrofits to be completed each day.
Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the NRLA, welcomed the government’s acknowledgement of the skills gap but pointed out that much more funding and support is necessary. He highlighted findings from the Heat Pump Association, which suggest the UK would need an additional 22,700 full-time heat pump installers to meet expected demand.
Beadle also stressed that reaching the EPC C target for the 2.5 million homes currently below the standard would be near impossible under the current pace. He urged the government to re-evaluate its timelines and to provide more financial assistance to landlords to help them meet the required improvements.
In a related move, the government has announced reforms to planning policies, aiming to remove barriers that currently hinder homeowners from installing low-carbon heating systems. These changes, due to come into effect at the end of May, will make it easier to install air source heat pumps in England without full planning permission.
Key changes include removing the rule that restricts installations of air source heat pumps within one metre of a property boundary. Additionally, the maximum allowable size of a heat pump under permitted development rights will be increased from 0.6 cubic metres to 1.5 cubic metres.
Daniel Sarefjord, CEO of clean-energy firm Aira, welcomed the policy update. He noted that residential heat pump technology has significantly advanced since these planning rules were last reviewed. By eliminating outdated restrictions, Sarefjord believes the government is taking an important step towards scaling up installations and boosting green job opportunities across the UK.
These developments signal the government’s continued push towards a more sustainable housing market. However, whether the pace of training and reform can meet the scale of the challenge remains a subject of intense debate within the property sector.
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