Readers brand EPC energy rating 'box-ticking exercise for climate' forcing locals out of their communities

Landlords in Cornwall are being forced to sell rental properties that are in high demand or convert them into holiday lets due to the need to obtain an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for older homes. It is particularly common in places like Porthleven, where locals claim it is ruining Cornish seaside villages just like theirs. CornwallLive readers can see the problem and have been having their say in the comments section of our recent article about the issue.

A holiday let is exempt from the government statute requiring privately rented domestic homes to have an EPC rating of at least E, which is monitored locally by Cornwall Council. In Cornwall, many of the older mining and fishing houses are rated merely F or G.

The Duchy's housing crisis is reaching a breaking point, partly due to the lack of private rentals. However, local carpenter Alec Short believes that the energy policy is more to blame than the notion of "greedy landlords" profiteering from tourists. The problem has affected the number of rental properties available to locals in the town, recently forcing the housing charity Coastline Housing to sell part of its Porthleven housing stock.

Landlords can register a valid exemption where improvements are not possible. For dedicated advice on exemptions landlords can contact the council at MEES@cornwall.gov.uk

DenG says: “A lot of sense in this article. I think Landlords will continue to sell as there is a risk of the minimum of E (I thought it was D) EPC being brought back in with a change of government. I assume that with that risk on the horizon Cornwall Council would also be unlikely to buy any old properties to rent as social housing either. The county does need holiday lets as the tourist industry benefits many so not all bad.”

However Colinfromcornwall writes: “Surely, should be a case for all renters including holiday makers, why should tourism be exempt? Tourism drives climate change especially with the extra traffic pollution that tourism brings to the county each year.”

Wag can’t see the problem: “Am I missing something here? Surely it's in the landlords best interests to be renting out properties which have a high energy efficiency rating? Adding value to their homes and also helping their tenants with reduced heating bills.” 16Fairfield agrees: “That's what the rules are for isn't it. Low EPC then can't be rented out.”

Enterthehedgehog disputes that: “There's a limit to what you can do with a 200 year old stone cottage with no damp course.”

Justice4cornwall is fed up: “This net zero is just nonsense, unless the whole world joins in which we know won't happen.”

Do you think the EPC rating is fair and effective? Have your say in our comments section below.